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…
Although not aired on the prime time nationwide broadcast on CBS, several jazz awards were presented at the 44th annual Grammy Awards on Wednesday nights. Among these awards were:
Best Contemporary Jazz Album: M2 by Marcus Miller (Telarc)
Best Jazz Vocal Album: The Calling by Dianne Reeves (Blue Note)
Best Jazz Instrumental Solo: “Chan’s Song,” Michael Brecker, soloist; track from Nearness Of You—The Ballad Book (Verve)
Best Jazz Instrumental Album: This Is What I Do, Sonny Rollins (Milestone)
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album: Homage To Count Basie, Bob Mintzer Big Band (Digital Music Products)
Best Latin Jazz Album: Nocturne, by Charlie Haden (Verve)
In addition, other awards of note came from Best Spoken Word album, which went to Q: The Autobiography Of Quincy Jones (Simon and Schuster Audio); Best Historical Album, which went to Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday On Columbia 1933-1944 (Columbia/Legacy Recordings); and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical, which went to Diana Krall’s The Look Of Love (Verve), which was engineered by Al Schmitt.
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.
Apr 2, 2024 12:59 PM
Casey Benjamin, the alto saxophonist, vocalist, keyboardist and producer who stamped his distinctive sounds on the…
“He’s constructing intelligent musical sentences that connect seamlessly, which is the most important part of linear playing,” Charles McPherson said of alto saxophonist Sonny Red.
Feb 27, 2024 1:40 PM
“I might not have felt this way 30 to 40 years ago, but I’ve reached a point where I can hear value in what people…
Albert “Tootie” Heath (1935–2024) followed in the tradition of drummer Kenny Clarke, his idol.
Apr 5, 2024 10:28 AM
Albert “Tootie” Heath, a drummer of impeccable taste and time who was the youngest of three jazz-legend brothers…
“Both of us are quite grounded in the craft, the tradition and the harmonic sense,” Rosenwinkel said of his experience playing with Allen. “Yet I felt we shared something mystical as well.”
Mar 12, 2024 11:42 AM
“There are a few musicians you hear where, as somebody once said, the molecules in the room change. Geri was one of…
Larry Goldings’ versatility keeps him in high demand as a leader, collaborator and sideman.
Feb 21, 2024 10:45 AM
Are you having any fun? Larry Goldings certainly is. Consider just two recent examples:
Scene 1: “If anyone had…
