Song:I Waited For You
Album:Source
Pianist Benny Green started out as a sideman in the 80s and then he had success as a leader on Blue Note in the 90s. His cover of the Dizzy Gillespie song I Waited For You is from his 2011 CD Source. He was born Apr. 4, 1963 in New York City and he grew up in Berkeley, CA. His father played sax. Green studied piano as a child and his dad got him into jazz. His major influences are Oscar Peterson and Bud Powell. Green recorded an album with Peterson in 1998. As a teen, he played with Eddie Henderson and he also played a weekly gig at the famed club Yoshi's. Green moved to New York in the early 80s and he was in Betty Carter's band for a few years. And then he was in Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. Green first recorded as a leader for Criss Cross in 1988 and then he signed with Blue Note in 1990. He recorded for Blue Note until 1999 and his albums did well on the jazz charts. Green was also a member of Ray Brown's band. His first album for Telarc was Oscar and Benny with Oscar Peterson in 1998. He also recorded with guitarist Russell Malone. Unfortunately Telarc went out of business and Green wouldn't record again until the 2011 CD Source for Jazz Legacy. The album is a cover of jazz standards with Peter Washington on bass and Kenny Washington on drums. Both guys are veteran sidemen. Peter Washington is from Los Angeles and he was in Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers with Green. Kenny Washington is from New York and he played with pianist Bill Charlap before he started with Green. Green currently records for Sunnyside. His latest CD Live In Santa Cruz was released last year. Kenny Washington is still touring with him. And former Pete Zimmer bassist David Wong replaced Peter Washington. They are currently on tour. Green lives in Ann Arbor, MI and he is on the University of Michigan faculty. Here's Benny Green performing I Waited For You at the Litchfield Jazz Festival in Connecticut.
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