I met Benny when he was pianist for Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. He was the youngest guy in the group and after the gig in Memphis I invited them out. Benny was so dedicated that he declined and stated that he would like to practice! Trends always surface and the most qualified are not always the chosen ones. Benny has payed his dues and sees the deconstruction of this great art through hype and not service. Deep.
Love this. Only comment would be most of the up-and-coming young bandleaders I know approach the music with profound modesty, and they would be the first to tell you they're not Art Blakey or Betty Carter. As I'm sure Benny knows, if you get a bite at the apple in this music you have to take it, because you might not get another opportunity to earn. I think a lot of cats are going along with the "hype" for financial reasons, but view themselves with great modesty.
Very valid points. As a Piano player in Sydney Australia, I'm looking to Study a Bachelor of Music at the Conservatorium of Music for the leadership that I know I need in order to become competent in creating Jazz and other forms of music. Thank you for this interview!
just a few thoughts ... 1.the scene is definitely a lot different these days as Benny points out in this 11 year old video ... 2.the jazz audience "then and now" (alternate title lol) is not large enough to support but a small % of those pursuing a career ... 3. thus even many of the masters Benny refers to sought refuge in teaching jobs ... 4.these days the educational institutions are pumping out so much new talent each year that it far exceeds the demand ... 5. teaching positions are no longer a dependable backup as more and more students come to realize they can't use an unmarketable skill/degree to pay the bills ... 6.still art was not invented as a job/occupation in the normal sense so mainly those with the passion, stamina and good fortune will carry jazz forward in spite of everything
"Real Jazz" And only Real Jazz is "Rag Time" and "Dixie Land" ! Jazz is a little four letter word with all this power inside to grow! You can be simple with it like Duke Ellington said..."There is no jazz, rock, country, classical music only good music and bad music" Jazz is art like a painting on a wall.....You like what it says or you don't.
I agree with Benny 100%. I just don't get this crowd that thinks it's OK to call other forms of music "Jazz". REAL JAZZ, as Mr. Green so aptly put it, has a distinct sound. It's music that swings with a blues based feeling to it. All this other fusion stuff and so-called avant garde stuff isn't and never was real jazz. The stuff Miles starting playing in the late 60s onward...that stuff wasn't jazz. Now just because Miles was a jazz musician doesn't mean that everything he ever played was jazz. Art played real jazz for the bulk of his career. Benny knows the difference. That isn't to say that other styles of music aren't valid. That's only to say that real jazz is distinct from what so many try to dilute it with.
talented young man, but probably better to hear him play than hear him speak, albeit Green’s obvious enthusiasm and sincere love and respect for the “jazz” elders, soulful cat
I met Benny when he was pianist for Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. He was the youngest guy in the group and after the gig in Memphis I invited them out. Benny was so dedicated that he declined and stated that he would like to practice! Trends always surface and the most qualified are not always the chosen ones. Benny has payed his dues and sees the deconstruction of this great art through hype and not service. Deep.
Man I tell ya Benny's Crib, Then and Now.. Really love those albums❤️❤️
No lies told.
Roy Hargrove was one of the great band leaders of the modern era.
Love this. Only comment would be most of the up-and-coming young bandleaders I know approach the music with profound modesty, and they would be the first to tell you they're not Art Blakey or Betty Carter. As I'm sure Benny knows, if you get a bite at the apple in this music you have to take it, because you might not get another opportunity to earn. I think a lot of cats are going along with the "hype" for financial reasons, but view themselves with great modesty.
Very valid points. As a Piano player in Sydney Australia, I'm looking to Study a Bachelor of Music at the Conservatorium of Music for the leadership that I know I need in order to become competent in creating Jazz and other forms of music.
Thank you for this interview!
just a few thoughts ... 1.the scene is definitely a lot different these days as Benny points out in this 11 year old video ... 2.the jazz audience "then and now" (alternate title lol) is not large enough to support but a small % of those pursuing a career ... 3. thus even many of the masters Benny refers to sought refuge in teaching jobs ... 4.these days the educational institutions are pumping out so much new talent each year that it far exceeds the demand ... 5. teaching positions are no longer a dependable backup as more and more students come to realize they can't use an unmarketable skill/degree to pay the bills ... 6.still art was not invented as a job/occupation in the normal sense so mainly those with the passion, stamina and good fortune will carry jazz forward in spite of everything
WIKIPEDIA FOOLS study the bios too :P
"real Jazz" alright tell me would Miles Davis agree with you right now...
"Real Jazz" And only Real Jazz is "Rag Time" and "Dixie Land" ! Jazz is a little four letter word with all this power inside to grow! You can be simple with it like Duke Ellington said..."There is no jazz, rock, country, classical music only good music and bad music" Jazz is art like a painting on a wall.....You like what it says or you don't.
I agree with Benny 100%. I just don't get this crowd that thinks it's OK to call other forms of music "Jazz". REAL JAZZ, as Mr. Green so aptly put it, has a distinct sound. It's music that swings with a blues based feeling to it. All this other fusion stuff and so-called avant garde stuff isn't and never was real jazz. The stuff Miles starting playing in the late 60s onward...that stuff wasn't jazz. Now just because Miles was a jazz musician doesn't mean that everything he ever played was jazz. Art played real jazz for the bulk of his career. Benny knows the difference. That isn't to say that other styles of music aren't valid. That's only to say that real jazz is distinct from what so many try to dilute it with.
+Willie Jordan Yes but genres are just a label anyways.
talented young man, but probably better to hear him play than hear him speak, albeit Green’s obvious enthusiasm and sincere love and respect for the “jazz” elders, soulful cat
He says "real jazz" as if I'm suppose to agree.
Honestly, I don't even remotely agree with most of what he's saying.
Too bad...