Magazine

BENNY GREEN

MEZZROW / FEBRUARY 14 & 15

Benny Green is a virtuoso jazz pianist who grew up in the San Francisco-Berkeley area. Considered a brilliant musician at an early age, Benny had already secured a gig playing Oakland’s renowned Yoshi’s jazz club, while still in high school. Playing predominantly in the bebop and hard bop styles, Benny was asked to join a quintet led by trumpet legend Eddie Henderson while still a teenager. That was followed by career-molding apprenticeships playing with Betty Carter and with Art Blakey. Benny’s playing often draws comparisons to Oscar Peterson whom Benny considered a mentor. Oscar invited Benny to collaborate with him on a duets album. Partnerships at that level don't happen from sheer luck. Rather, they’re reflective of the immense talent and hard work that Benny put in to become one of the jazz piano’s most acclaimed and accomplished players.  You can hear Benny this month in a solo performance at Mezzrow. JZ

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