Apr 2, 2024 12:59 PM
Saxophonist, Sonic Explorer Casey Benjamin Dies at 45
Casey Benjamin, the alto saxophonist, vocalist, keyboardist and producer who stamped his distinctive sounds on the…
New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz, will continue to commemorate native son Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong with the second annual Satchmo SummerFest, Aug. 2-4. Taking place in and around the Louisiana State Museum’s Old U.S. Mint at 400 Esplanade Avenue in the French Quarter, the event will pay tribute to Armstrong’s memorable career with an expanded free music and food festival, intimate seminars and informative discussions, children’s activities, a club crawl, art and photo exhibits, a jazz mass, second-line parade and much more.
Thousands of festival-goers are expected to participate in the all-Armstrong weekend that explores Satchmo’s life through music, dance, art and food. Highlights include a conference with educational seminars detailing Armstrong’s music and legacy. Approximately five sessions will be held each day, with presentations, interviews and panel discussions from those who worked with and knew Armstrong. Confirmed speakers include noted journalist and jazz critic Stanley Crouch; Michael Cogswell, Director of the Louis Armstrong House & Archives; famed record producer George Avakian; Phoebe Jacobs, vice-president of the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation, jazz archivist and concert producer Dan Morgenstern; Armstrong memorabilia collector Jack Bradley, and several other jazz historians and Armstrong enthusiasts who will convene in the Crescent City to discuss Satchmo’s important cultural contributions.
The event will also feature free live music performances on three music stages, showcasing some of New Orleans’ best traditional, contemporary and brass band jazz musicians. Performers include Wendell Brunious, Donald Harrison Jr., Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers, the Dukes of Dixieland, Dejan’s Olympia Brass Band, Dr. Michael White, Jeremy Davenport, Johnny Vidacovich, Germaine Bazzle and Armstrong protege Chris Clifton and His All Stars, among others. The festival culminates with a special Trumpet Tribute finale, as trumpeters and special guests are invited to join in a jam session.
“We are thrilled to be able to perpetuate Armstrong’s music and memory,” said Sandra Dartus, Satchmo SummerFest producer and executive director of French Quarter Festivals, Inc. “We look forward to this second opportunity to showcase his contributions not just by reflecting on the past, but by providing an in-depth look into his influence on today’s culture. To be able to pay tribute to our native son, right here at home, is truly an honor.”
For more information, go to www.satchmosummerfest.com.
Benjamin possessed a fluid, round sound on the alto saxophone, and he was often most recognizable by the layers of electronic effects that he put onto the instrument.
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