Benny Green (pianist)

For the British jazz saxophonist, see Benny Green (saxophonist).

Benny Green (born April 4, 1963 in New York City) is a hard bop jazz pianist who was a member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. [1]

He has been compared to Bud Powell in style and counts him as an influence. As a boy he grew up in Berkeley, California and studied classical piano from the age of seven. He also had an interest in jazz from an early point as his father was a jazz tenor saxophone player. Benny Green was "discovered" by Faye Carroll and later while still in his teens worked in a quintet led by Eddie Henderson. After high school he spent time in San Francisco, but professional success came on his return to New York. He joined Betty Carter's band in April, 1983 and since 1991 he has led his own trio. He has worked most with Blue Note Records, Telarc International Corporation, and started with the Dutch label Criss Cross Jazz.

He frequently teaches in workshops across the United States, such as Jazz Camp West in California, and Centrum/Jazz Port Townsend in Washington. His students are commonly struck by his youthful enthusiasm for life and generosity of spirit, encouraging his students and treating them as peers, regardless of their skill level.

Benny Green currently resides in Berkeley California where he practices piano, composes music and watches films in his spare time.

Contents

Discography

As leader

As sideman

References

  1. ^ Allmusic

External links