Piano ace Benny Green tops Bay Area jazz week
- May 14, 2013
By David Becker
From a bracing and energetic start as the 1990's equivalent of a "young lion," pianist, local boy and Berkeley High alumnus Benny Green has matured into a great all-around player of tremendous dexterity and range. The latter is testified by his voluminous resume as a sideman, which runs from duets with avatar Oscar Peterson to modern journeys with clarinet explorer Anat Cohen.
He's best appreciated as a leader, however, where his encyclopedic knowledge of bop and post-bop idioms and relentless energy ensure there's seldom a less-than-riveting moment. Hear for yourself as Green performs a free concert with CSU East Bay student musicians, 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the on campus.