Benny Green (pianist)

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Not to be confused with British jazz saxophonist Benny Green.

Photo by John Dugan

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.

[edit] Discography

As leader:

Jazz at the Bistro [live] (2003) Telarc
Green's Blues (2001) Telarc
Naturally (2000) Telarc
These Are Soulful Days (1999) Blue Note
Oscar & Benny (1998) Telarc
Kaleidoscope (1997) Blue Note
Place to Be (1994) Blue Note
Testifyin'!: Live at the Village Vanguard (1992) Blue Note
That's Right! (1992) Blue Note
Greens (1991) Blue Note
Lineage (1990) Blue Note
Prelude (1988) Criss Cross
In This Direction (1988) Criss Cross

Appears on:

Gary Bartz Shadows (1991) Piano
Bob Belden Ensemble Straight to My Heart: The Music of (1989) Piano
Bob Belden When the Doves Cry: Piano
The Music of Prince (1993)
Art Blakey Hard Champion: Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers (1985) Piano
Art Blakey I Get a Kick out of Bu (1988) Piano
Art Blakey Not Yet (1988) Piano
Art Blakey Feel the Wind (1989) Piano
Block 16 Morning Sun Remixed (2002) Remixing
Don Braden Quintet Time Is Now (1991) Piano
Don Braden Wish List (1991) Piano
Cecil Brooks III Hangin' With Smooth (1990) Piano
Cecil Brooks III Our Mister Brooks (2000) Piano
Big Bill Broonzy 1955 London Sessions (1955) Bass
Ray Brown Bass Face (1993) Piano
Ray Brown Trio With Benny... Don't Get Sassy (1994) Piano
Ray Brown Some of My Best Friends Are...The... (1994) Piano
Ray Brown Seven Steps to Heaven (1995) Piano
Ray Brown Some of My Best Friends Are...The... (1995) Piano
Ray Brown Live at Scullers Jazz Club (1996) Piano
Ray Brown with John... Super Bass (1997) Piano
Ray Brown Triple Play (1998) Piano
Ray Brown Trio Walk On (2003) Piano
Betty Carter Compact Jazz: Betty Carter (1976) Piano
Betty Carter Look What I Got (1988) Piano
Arnett Cobb with Heath... Tenor Tribute, Vol. 1 (1988) Piano
Arnett Cobb/Jimmy Heath... Tenor Tribute, Vol. 2 (1988) Piano
Dalida Annees Barclay (1997) Composer
Mark Elf Minor Scramble (1996) Piano
Larry Gales Message from Monk (1990) Piano
George Gershwin S'Wonderful (1992) Piano
Tim Hagans & Marcus... Hub Songs: The Music of Freddie... (1997) Piano, Vocals
Jay Hoggard Little Tiger (1990) Piano
Fred Horn Steady Freddy Collective Cuts (1995) Keyboards
Freddie Hubbard Topsy: Standard Book (1989) Piano
Freddie Hubbard Live at Fat Tuesday (1991) Piano
Freddie Hubbard God Bless the Child [Music Master] (1998) Piano
Milt Jackson Burnin' in the Woodhouse (1995) Piano
Ron Jackson Guitar Thing (1991) Piano
Jazz Futures Live in Concert (1991) Piano
Randy Johnston Walk On (1991) Piano
Etta Jones At Last (1993) Piano
Etta Jones My Gentleman Friend (1994) Piano
Vince Jones One Day Spent (1991) Piano
Kristin Korb Introducing Kristin Korb With the... (1996) Piano
Diana Krall All for You (1995) Piano
Michael Logan Night Out (1990) Piano
Brian Lynch In Process (1991) Piano
Mingus Dynasty Next Generation Performs Charles... (1991) Piano
Ralph Moore Round Trip (1985) Piano
Ralph Moore Images (1988) Piano
Ralph Moore Furthermore (1990) Piano
Ralph Moore Who It is You Are (1993) Piano
Ralph Moore Complete Landmark Recordings (1999) Piano
Amani A.W. Murray Amani A.W. Murray (1990) Piano
Randy Napoleon Between Friends (2006) Piano
Houston Person Lion and His Pride (1991) Piano
Houston Person Christmas With Houston Person and... (1994) Piano
Houston Person Little Houston on the Side (1999) Piano
Houston Person Santa Baby Piano
Oscar Peterson Tribute (1997) Piano
Oscar Peterson & Benny... Oscar & Benny (1998) Performer
Flip Phillips Swing Is the Thing! (2000) Piano
John Pizzarelli Dear Mr. Cole (1994) Piano
Lisa Pollard I See Your Face Before Me (1993) Piano
Jimmy Ponder Soul Eyes (1991) Piano
Jimmy Ponder Steel City Soul (1998) Piano
Zoot Sims Zoot Sims and the Gershwin... (1975) Liner Notes
Zoot Sims with Jimmy... If I'm Lucky (1977) Producer, Liner Notes
Jim Snidero Quintet Mixed Bag (1987) Piano
Jim Snidero Blue Afternoon (1989) Piano
Jim Snidero Quartet While You Were Here (1991) Piano
Lew Tabackin Quartet I'll Be Seeing You (1992) Piano
Lew Tabackin Quartet What a Little Moonlight Can Do (1994) Piano
Clark Terry One on One (2000) Piano
Steve Turre Right There (1991) Piano
Jack Walrath & The Masters Out of the Tradition (1990) Piano
Jack Walrath I Am the Walrath (2000) Piano
Bobby Watson Inventor (1989) Piano
Josh White Blues And... (1998) Sax (Baritone)
Various Artists Blue Piano, Vol. 2 (1955) Performer

Various Artists Yule Struttin' (1990) Piano, Performer Various Artists Santa's Bag: An All-Star Jazz... (1992) Piano Various Artists All-Star Jazz Christmas (1992) Piano Various Artists Jazz Celebration: a Tribute to... (1992) Piano Various Artists S'Wonderful: The Gershwin Songbook (1992)Piano Various Artists Jazz Showcase (1994) Piano Various Artists Blue Note Now! (1994) Performer Various Artists Esquire Jazz Collection:... (1995) Piano Various Artists Fujitsu-Concord 27th Jazz Festival (1995) Various Artists Complete Gershwin Songbooks (1995 Piano Various Artists For the Love of Monk (1997) Piano Various Artists It's Monk's Tune (1997) Piano Various Artists Jazz After Hours (1998) Piano Various Artists Surround Sounds, Vol. 2 (1998) Piano Various Artists Blue Note Plays Gershwin (1999) Piano Various Artists Essential Young Lions, Vol. 1 (1999) Performer Various Artists Jazz for Those Peaceful Moments... (1999) Piano Various Artists 32 More Gems from 32 Jazz (2000) Piano Various Artists Romance in Rio (2000) Piano Various Artists Jazz Piano Christmas (2000) Piano Various Artists Richard Rodgers Centennial Jazz... (2001) Piano Various Artists Signature Songs (2002) Piano Various Artists Telarc Celebrating 25 Years: The... (2002) Piano Various Artists I Heard It on NPR: Jazz for Blue... (2002) Piano Various Artists I Heard It on NPR CD Box Set: Jazz (2003) Piano