Jeff Benedict

Jeff Benedict is a Professor of Music Emeritus at the Califoirnia State University, Los Angeles. He holds a B.M. and an M.A. from the Lamont School of Music and a D.M.A. from the University of Texas at Austin, where he was a student of Harvey Pittel. He is in demand as a classical recitalist and clinician and performs regularly with the Orion Saxophone Quartet. He has appeared with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the Pacific Symphony, the Aspen Festival Orchestra and the Tanglewood Fellowship Orchestra. He is an accomplished jazz performer as well, currently performing in the L.A. area with a jazz quartet featuring guitarist Dave Askren. The Dave Askren/Jeff Benedict Quartet have released four CDs: "It's All About the Groove," "Come Together" and "Paraphernalia," and most recently "Denver Sessions." He is also the leader of the Jeff Benedict Big Big Band, which has released two CDs: "The Weather Is Here, Wish You Were Beautiful" on Groovy Panda Records, and "Holmes" on the Tapestry Records label. He has also recorded two albums under his own name on the Resurgent Music record label, "Castle Creek Shuffle" and "Standard Fare," and has produced a recording for Sea Breeze Records entitled "Rhubumba." He is also featured on recordings by the Dave Askren Quartet, the Hawk-Richard Jazz Orchestra and the Orion Saxophone Quartet. He has performed with many jazz artists including Toshiko Akiyoshi, Randy Brecker, Nick Brignola, Eddie Daniels, Carl Fontana, Curtis Fuller, Slide Hampton, Jimmy Heath, Hubert Laws, Wynton Marsalis, Bob Mintzer, Claudio Roditi, Diane Schuur, Lew Soloff, Billy Taylor, Mel Torme, Bill Watrous, Mark Whitfield and Joe Williams. He is currently an Associate Instructor, teaching Saxophone at Riverside City College. He is an Eastman Winds Artist.