OCT 27-30 | PIANO WEEK
Oct 29, 2022
Joe Henderson Lab
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This page is an archive of a past production
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Original show description below.
The Venezuela-born pianist and two-time GRAMMY nominee known for his virtuosic playing with Pharoah Sanders and Kenny Garrett honors the timeless music of the legendary McCoy Tyner with this performance by his superb trio featuring bassist Will Slater and drummer Marvin "Smitty" Smith.
Growing up immersed in the Venezuelan folk tradition, Gonzalez became enamored with the American jazz tradition from a young age, absorbing the work of Herbie Hancock, Keith Jarrett, and McCoy Tyner before moving to the U.S. for jazz studies and work with post-bop saxophone innovator Jackie McLean.
Gonzalez worked with Kenny Garrett for seven years, appearing on three albums with the master saxophonist including the GRAMMY-nominated Mack Avenue releases Seeds From the Underground (2012) and Pushing the World Away (2013). Since then, he’s worked with saxophone great and McCoy Tyner collaborator Azar Lawrence before becoming Music Director for the legendary Pharoah Sanders in 2019.
Gonzales has recorded four albums as a leader, and his 2018 trio session Passion Reverance Transcendence pays tribute to the lasting influence of Tyner, featuring multi-percussionist Gerry Gibbs and bassist Essiet Essiet in supercharged versions of Tyner classics including “Fly with the Wind,” “Blues on the Corner,” and “The Greeting.” Gonzalez revisits Tyner’s work for these performances with his current working trio.
2-time GRAMMY nominee known for his virtuosic playing with Pharoah Sanders and Kenny Garrett honors the timeless music of the legendary McCoy Tyner.
When Gonzalez hits full tilt with thunderous left-hand chords and careening right-hand runs, the sound of Tyner is unmistakable
JazzTimes
When Gonzalez hits full tilt with thunderous left-hand chords and careening right-hand runs, the sound of Tyner is unmistakable
JazzTimes
Personnel
Benito Gonzalez piano
Marvin "Smitty" Smith drums
Will Slater bass
Gonzalez proves he can handle just about anything thrown his musical way
Keyboard Times
Personnel
Benito Gonzalez piano
Marvin "Smitty" Smith drums
Will Slater bass
Gonzalez proves he can handle just about anything thrown his musical way
Keyboard Times
Watch & Listen
Benito Gonzalez
Fly With the Wind
Benito Gonzalez
Blues on the Corner
Benito Gonzalez
Fly With the Wind
Benito Gonzalez
Blues on the Corner
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