Benny Green – Solo Piano Concert

SFJAZZ has expanded their streaming offerings with select live-streaming performances. They continue that today with a solo concert by jazz pianist Benny Green. The show, Alone Together: Benny Green, Solo Piano, takes place tonight, October 14th at 10:00 PM EDT/7:00 PM PDT.

The concert finds Green performing a set of seven announced songs. Three of the songs were written by Green and the rest by Jimmy Van Heusen & Johnny Burke, Duke Pearson, Horace Silver and James Williams.

Green was a member of Betty Carter’s band when he started his career in the early 1980s. He joined Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers in 1987. His first record as a leader was 1988’s Criss Cross which featured, amongst others, Terence Blanchard on trumpet.

Other artists who have joined Green in the recording studio include Christian McBride, Russell Malone, Delfeayo Marsalis, Oscar Peterson, Stanley Turrentine and Kenny Washington.

Green’s most recent album was released earlier this year. Entitled Benny’s Crib, the album finds him playing a Fender Rhodes electric piano throughout.

Amongst others with whom he has recorded are Ray Brown, Freddie Hubbard, Milt Jackson, Etta Jones, Diana Krall and John Pizzarelli.

Unlike their Fridays at Five series which is free to members, Benny Green’s concert has a $10 fee for viewing. That’s along with needing a membership ($5/month or $60/year). There will be an encore re-broadcast of the concert on October 19th at 10:00 PM EDT/7:00 PM PDT. That will also include a Q&A with Green. Once that re-broadcast is over, the performance will remain available for streaming through November 15th.

Photo: Benny Green (Courtesy SFJAZZ)