Vince Benedetti - video clips, songs, albums online

Vince Benedetti Pianist, Composer, Arranger -Born in Teaneck, NJ (USA) USA Resides in Winterthur, Switzerland. He Began playing piano by ear at age four, subsequently having classical piano lessons from age six to fourteen. Began trumpet lessons in primary school, switching to trombone in high school at the wish of his band director. First heard jazz through some swing big band records in his parents home. First experience playing jazz was in high school, playing trombone with an amateur college Dixieland band. Benedetti began concentrating on piano from age eighteen after having been introduced by a friend to some recordings of Thelonius Monk, through which he first began to learn chord voicings. First professional jazz gig was in 1964 with saxophonists Pony Poindexter and Booker Ervin. Left shortly thereafter for Paris, doing a number of extended solo club dates, thus learning some stride piano "on the fly". His mentor was the resident American pianist Art Simmons who proved influential regarding chord voicings and accompaniment technique. Recorded with Hank Mobley and worked regularly with Belgian guitarist Rene Thomas. Benedetti subsequently worked in rhythm sections in the major German clubs, Munich's Domicile and the Jazz Galerie in Berlin, giving him with the invaluable experience of accompanying name guest artists on a regular basis. Benedetti's principal influences on piano have been Thelonius Monk, Bud Powell and Barry Harris, later absorbing the trends of Bill Evans, Wynton Kelly and Ahmad Jamal, as well as keeping abreast of the modal concept of the mid-sixties. Benedetti has performed with, among others, Pepper Adams, Chet Baker, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Roy Eldridge, Buddy de Franco, Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie, Dexter Gordon, Johnny Griffin, Scott Hamilton, Slide Hampton, The Heath Brothers, "Philly" Joe Jones, Hank Mobley, Sal Nistico, Shorty Rogers, Charlie Rouse, Art Taylor, Leo Wright and swing jazz vocalist Pina Simmons. In addition, Benedetti has made numerous appearances with his own groups, from trio through big band, including a quintet in 1989 with then-unknown *Diana Krall. In 1990 Vince Benedetti and todays Grammy Award winner Miss Diana Krall completed a trio recording with bassist Reggie Johnson and drummer Alvin Queen. As a composer-arranger Benedetti has had commissions for numerous big bands, small groups and singers, in addition to writing for his own groups. Has been continuously active in teaching, holding posts in the The Swiss Jazz School in Berne, The Music Conservatory of Basel, and as a clinician for big band performance at the Music Conservatory in Graz, Austria. At present Benedetti instructs piano and arranging at the Jazz School of Basel, as well as giving private lessons and workshops in piano, arranging, improvisation and performance. He organizes The Barry Harris Master Classes for one week each summer in Baden, Switzerland. Founded Jazzart Publications in 1996.