Benny Green (pianist)

Not to be confused with British jazz saxophonist Benny Green.

Benny Green (born April 4, 1963 in New York City) is a hard bop jazz pianist who "graduated" from Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. 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. He lists Erroll Garner, Ahmad Jamal, Phineas Newborn, Bud Powell and Oscar Peterson as prime influences.

External links

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• BBC Radio 2
• AMS artists
• Benny Green's website

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Last updated on Monday January 14, 2008 at 12:54:06 PST (GMT -0800)
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