Articles

Benjamin Koppel: The Ultimate Soul & Jazz Revue

by Chris M. Slawecki
April 21, 2021

Listen to music long enough, and it's almost bound to happen: You're not sure exactly what you want to listen to, but you know that whatever you listen to needs must bump and groove. The Ultimate Soul & Jazz Revue, an anthology of American jazz, soul and R&B recorded live at a Copenhagen music festival by Danish saxophonist Benjamin Koppel and his big band, is some first-rate scratch for that itch. Ultimate Soul & Jazz neatly packages Koppel's ...

Benjamin Koppel: Curiosity Won't Kill This Cat

by R.J. DeLuke
January 14, 2021

Benjamin Koppel is an extraordinary Danish musician from an illustrious music family. He is all about music—of just about any kind. He's always absorbing it, discovering what there is to derive from it. A kind of restless desire to explore envelops him. He simplifies it in his own words: he's curious. It comes naturally to him. The alto saxophonist is intelligent and unassuming. His influences are broad, but they start with his family. Koppel, a stellar player and ...

Benjamin Koppel: Room to Roam

by Doug Collette
December 6, 2020

In his two simultaneously-released double CDs, Danish saxophonist Benjamin Koppel illustrates how fine a line exists between authentic rhythm and blues and healthily-improvised jazz. It might otherwise go without saying it takes the caliber of world-class singers and players to traverse such broad and fertile territory-- bassist Scott Colley and trumpeter Randy Brecker are just two—but, credit where credit is due to both the bandleader and his colleagues, they mesh their complementary talents in such a way that the focus ...

Benjamin Koppel featuring Phil Woods and the Alex Riel Trio: Pass the Bebop

by Ken Dryden
July 11, 2007

Even though Phil Woods jokes at every opportunity that, “Emphysema is nature's way of telling you that you're playing too fast, the alto saxophonist still brings a special touch to any recording date, as he remains one of the most inventive improvisers on his instrument with a sound that is always recognizable within a few seconds. Woods is also no stranger to playing in small groups with a second altoist, having recorded a number of sessions with Gene Quill and ...

Benjamin Koppel: Hammond Street

by Mark F. Turner
January 27, 2007

With the popularity of Hammond B-3 organ-based recordings, it's becoming hard to differentiate one from another. Ever since the patriarchal organ sounds of Jimmy Smith's hot greased soul and Larry Young's smooth sophistication, the organ combo has flourished. Copenhagen alto saxophonist Benjamin Koppel offers his spin on the idiom with Hammond Street. Koppel is a versatile and gifted player who has led ensembles in jazz, crossover and classical music. He's an alto stylist with a tone similar ...

Benjamin Koppel featuring Phil Woods: Pass The Bebop

by Michael P. Gladstone
November 7, 2006

Danish alto saxophonist Benjamin Koppel has always been inspired by the bebop masters. When altoist Phil Woods was in Copenhagen, Denmark in 2005, Koppel invited the American legend to join him and the Alex Riel Trio in a recording session. Koppel supplied seven original bebop tunes, while Woods selected two standards, “How High The Moon" and “Autumn Leaves," for the session.

Woods just celebrated his 75th birthday. He could very well be the hardest working jazz musician in ...