Articles
Daily articles carefully curated by the All About Jazz staff. Read our popular and future articles.
Benny Powell: Nextep

A whiff of glorious, old-time New Orleans jazz in Free to be Me" jubilantly launches trombonist Benny Powell's Nextep. Yet be assured the set is no trip down nostalgia lane. A working musician since his early teens in New Orleans, bop loyalist and veteran sideman at hundreds of recording sessions with the likes of everyone from Count Basie and Frank Sinatra to Aretha Franklin and Screamin'" Jay Hawkins, at 78, Nextep is Powell's bid to finally take well-earned center stage ...
read moreBenny Powell: Trombone Titan

Master trombonist, composer, occasional vocalist and actor, NEA Jazz Master Benny Powell was saluted in 2008 at the All Nite Soul at Saint Peter Church in New York, along with his fellow honoree, pianist Jane Jarvis. A working musician since his early teens in New Orleans and a veteran sideman on hundreds of recording sessions with the likes of Count Basie, Frank Sinatra and Screamin' Jay Hawkins, at 78 Powell is energetic, quick to laugh and looking ahead to what ...
read moreBenny Powell: Nextep

If Benny Powell doesn't sound familiar, he should be. He's recorded memorable work with Count Basie (a classic solo on April in Paris") and on pianist Randy Weston's African Sunrise (Polygram Records, 1992). He's also been heard in countless recordings with Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington, Joe Henderson, Sarah Vaughn and as part of Merv Griffin's TV show band. Certainly, Benny Powell is a versatile veteran jazz man.On Nextep, Powell assembles an ensemble of players of diverse backgrounds and ...
read more