Benny_Green_(pianist)

Benny Green (pianist)

Benny Green (pianist)

American hard bop jazz pianist

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

Benny Green (born April 4, 1963) is an American hard bop jazz pianist who was a member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. He has been compared to Bud Powell and Oscar Peterson in style and counts them as influences.[1]

Quick Facts Background information, Born ...

Biography

Green was born in New York City. He grew up in Berkeley, California, and studied classical piano from the age of seven. He was also interested in jazz from an early point, as his father was a jazz tenor saxophone player. Benny Green was "discovered" by Faye Carroll, and while still in his teens worked in a quintet led by Eddie Henderson. Green attended Berkeley High School, and participated in the school's jazz ensemble. In the later years of his high school career, he had a weekly trio gig at Yoshi's, which was his entrance to the world of professional jazz. After high school, he spent time in San Francisco, but became more successful on his return to New York.[2][3]

Green joined Betty Carter's band in April, 1983, and since 1991 he has led his own trio. He has recorded for Blue Note, Telarc, and Criss Cross.

Green frequently teaches in workshops across the United States, such as Jazz Camp West in California, and Centrum/Jazz Port Townsend in Washington. He currently resides in the United States and tours globally with his trio. Then and Now is a studio album recorded and released in 2018 by Sunnyside Records.

Discography

As leader

More information Year recorded, Title ...

Main sources:[5][6][7][8]

As sideman

With Art Blakey

With Bob Belden

  • Straight to My Heart: The Music of Sting (1989)
  • When the Doves Cry: The Music of Prince (1993)

With Don Braden

  • Quintet Time Is Now (1991)
  • Wish List (1991)

With Cecil Brooks III

With Ray Brown

  • Bass Face (1993)
  • Don't Get Sassy (1994)
  • Some of My Best Friends Are...The Piano Players (1994)
  • Some of My Best Friends Are...The Sax Players (1995)
  • Seven Steps to Heaven (1995)
  • Live at Scullers Jazz Club (1996)
  • SuperBass (1997)
  • Triple Play (compilation) (1998)
  • Walk On (2003)

With Arnett Cobb

  • Tenor Tribute, Vol. 1 (1988)
  • Tenor Tribute, Vol. 2 (1988)

With Freddie Hubbard

With Etta Jones

With Ralph Moore

With Houston Person

With Jimmy Ponder

  • Soul Eyes (1991)
  • Steel City Soul (1998)

With Jim Snidero

  • Mixed Bag (1987)
  • Blue Afternoon (1989)
  • While You Were Here (1991)

With Lew Tabackin

  • Ill Be Seeing You (1992)
  • What a Little Moonlight Can Do (1994)

With Jack Walrath

With others

References

  1. [1]
    Scheinin, Richard (25 June 2013). "Review: Pianist Benny Green delivers sheer jazz joy – The Mercury News". San Jose Mercury. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  2. [2]
    "Bio". www.bennygreen.music. 22 August 2012. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  3. [3]
    Yanow, Scott. "Benny Green | Biography & History | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  4. [4]
    Panken, Ted (July 2023). "Benny Green's Solo Mastery". DownBeat. Vol. 90, no. 7. p. 16.
  5. [5]
    Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (1992). The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD, LP & Cassette (1st ed.). Penguin. p. 445. ISBN 978-0-14-015364-4.
  6. [6]
    Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (1996). The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD (3rd ed.). Penguin. p. 539. ISBN 978-0-14-051368-4.
  7. [7]
    Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2004). The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD (7th ed.). Penguin. ISBN 978-0-14-101416-6.
  8. [8]
    Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 597. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.
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