Benny Powell, RIP - July 10, 2010
Trombonist Benny Powell joined the Count Basie Orchestra in 1951 and continued performing with them throughout the 50s and 60s. He also played with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra and the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra.
In the mid 1970s, Powell joined Randy Weston and they collaborated for decades. Benny also worked in the orchestra of the Merv Griffin Show. Over the years he also worked with many of the most famous musicians of his time including Harry "Sweets” Edison, whom he regarded as a mentor; the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, Abdullah Ibrahim, Frank Foster, Benny Carter, Duke Pearson, John Carter, Jimmy Heath, Bill Holman, and with singers Sarah Vaughan, Joe Williams and Aretha Franklin.
Mr. Powell amassed a significant discography both within and outside of jazz, mostly as sideman. In addition to those named above, he recorded with Earth, Wind and Fire, Doctor John, Sammy Davis, Jr., Ray Charles and Ry Cooder, among others, in addition to such jazz artists as Duke Ellington, Buck Clayton, Frank Wess, Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole, Donald Byrd, J.J Johnson, David "Fathead” Newman, Oliver Nelson, Roland Kirk, Stanley Turrentine, Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, Joe Henderson, Ernie Wilkins, Les McCann, and Frank Sinatra.
Powell became heavily involved in jazz education and was a faculty member of the New School for Jazz and the Performing Arts in Manhattan.
Powell’s most recent performance was just a week prior to his passing at Louis Armstrong’s House/Museum with David Ostwald's Louis Armstrong Centennial Band (Howard Alden, Anat Cohen, Marion Felder, Ayana Lowe, David Ostwald, Randy Sandke) as part of the CareFusion Jazz Festival New York.
Benny Powell will be missed as much for his humanity as for his musicality.
Our Home Page carries two terrific videos of Benny with a link to his 2009 CD "Nextep.”
Last year, jazz writer Andrew Velez & Benny gave us permission to reprint a great article entitled, "Benny Powell: Trombone Titan." Here is the link to the article: http://www.makinmusicny.com/profiles/blogs/benny-powell-trombone-titan.
Additionally, here are links to a few articles written about Benny by jazz writer Bob Bernotas:
http://www.trombone.org/articles/library/bennypowell-int.asp
http://www.trombone.org/articles/library/viewarticles.asp?ArtID=96
In the mid 1970s, Powell joined Randy Weston and they collaborated for decades. Benny also worked in the orchestra of the Merv Griffin Show. Over the years he also worked with many of the most famous musicians of his time including Harry "Sweets” Edison, whom he regarded as a mentor; the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, Abdullah Ibrahim, Frank Foster, Benny Carter, Duke Pearson, John Carter, Jimmy Heath, Bill Holman, and with singers Sarah Vaughan, Joe Williams and Aretha Franklin.
Mr. Powell amassed a significant discography both within and outside of jazz, mostly as sideman. In addition to those named above, he recorded with Earth, Wind and Fire, Doctor John, Sammy Davis, Jr., Ray Charles and Ry Cooder, among others, in addition to such jazz artists as Duke Ellington, Buck Clayton, Frank Wess, Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole, Donald Byrd, J.J Johnson, David "Fathead” Newman, Oliver Nelson, Roland Kirk, Stanley Turrentine, Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, Joe Henderson, Ernie Wilkins, Les McCann, and Frank Sinatra.
Powell became heavily involved in jazz education and was a faculty member of the New School for Jazz and the Performing Arts in Manhattan.
Powell’s most recent performance was just a week prior to his passing at Louis Armstrong’s House/Museum with David Ostwald's Louis Armstrong Centennial Band (Howard Alden, Anat Cohen, Marion Felder, Ayana Lowe, David Ostwald, Randy Sandke) as part of the CareFusion Jazz Festival New York.
Benny Powell will be missed as much for his humanity as for his musicality.
Our Home Page carries two terrific videos of Benny with a link to his 2009 CD "Nextep.”
Last year, jazz writer Andrew Velez & Benny gave us permission to reprint a great article entitled, "Benny Powell: Trombone Titan." Here is the link to the article: http://www.makinmusicny.com/profiles/blogs/benny-powell-trombone-titan.
Additionally, here are links to a few articles written about Benny by jazz writer Bob Bernotas:
http://www.trombone.org/articles/library/bennypowell-int.asp
http://www.trombone.org/articles/library/viewarticles.asp?ArtID=96