The Pace Report: "A Pianist's Tale" The Benny Green Interview
Pianist and educator Benny Green came to New York City in the early 1980's during what was hailed in jazz music as the "Young Lions" period. This was era when musicians from the ages of 18 to 25 earned their stripes playing behind the great luminaries of jazz music and these musicians like Cyrus Chestnut, Javon Jackson, The Harper Brothers, The Marsalis Brothers, Jeff Watts, Robert Hurst, Geri Allen, Christian McBride, Roy Hargrove, Lewis Nash and others get their training on the bandstand. In addition to their "on the job" training, these musician, like Benny, have and are leading their own bands but are still on the front lines educating and conducting clinics to help pass this music and theory down to the next generation of jazz musicians and students.
Benny Green hails from Berkeley, California and was exposed to jazz by his father when he was a kid. During his time in New York City he was blessed to record and tour with vocalist Betty Carter, Art Blakey, Freddie Hubbard, Ray Brown, Milt Jackson, Gary Bartz, Etta Jones, Bobby Watson, and Oscar Peterson. Benny was also mentored by the great Walter Bishop, Jr.
He's currently a Professor at the University of Michigan along with bassist and former "Young Lion," Robert Hurst.
Benny's latest CD "Live at Santa Cruz" is available on Sunnyside Records and was recorded live at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz, California. It was at Kuumbwa that he recording as a sideman for Ray Brown at 21 for his live record.
I had a chance to speak with Benny recently during his week stint at the famed Birdland Jazz Club in New York City to reflect on his time in New York in the 1980's, him being a Professor of Music, and how he's perfecting his life as a pianist.
For more info on Benny's upcoming club and tour dates or to order his latest CD "LIve In Santa Cruz," please visit him online atbennygreenmusic.com, facebook.com/bennygreenmusic, and twitter.com/bennygreenmusic.
