Current Projects
Bennett Paster Group
(Contemporary, broad-based acoustic jazz)
My latest acoustic jazz CD, Relentless Pursuit of the Beautiful features quintet, sextet and septet renditions of my tunes in a broad-based, straight-ahead jazz setting. The band most often performs with 4 or 5 people on stage, but we’re adaptable to any situation. Core members of the ensemble include me on piano, Joel Frahm and Tim Armacost on saxophones, Alex Pope Norris on trumpet, Gregory Ryan on bass and Willard B. Dyson Jr. on drums. Percussionist Gilad also joins us on the CD.
Bennett PAster’s Funktet
(Electro-acoustic groovy jazz)
Sometimes you just gots to get funky… That’s what the Funktet is all about- fun, groovy electric jazz that makes your feet tap and your hips shake. This group explores my book of funky, groove-based tunes and lets me stretch out on vintage keyboards including: electric piano, clavinet, organ and synthesizers. Core members include me on keys, Pete McCann on electric guitar, Kenny Brooks on saxophone, Gregory Ryan on electric bass and Joel Rosenblatt on drums. We’re working on our debut CD- stay tuned for more information and sound samples.
Bennett Paster Trio
(Acoustic jazz, classic piano-trio format)
The jazz piano trio is classic because it works so darned well! Acoustic piano, acoustic bass and drums can create an almost orchestral range of dynamics and colors. I play a lot of trio gigs with an ever-ratating cast of NYC’s most swinging musicians and we cover a lot of musical ground from original music to favorites from the American Songbook, jazz standards, Latin and Brazilian standards and classic rock and R&B favorites. Though the personnel may vary amongst a group of my closest musical compatriots, the unifying factor is the fact that we treat all styles equally and always find a way to creatively explore the diverse repertoire and make it undeniably jazz. Core members include me on piano, Gregory Ryan, Gary Wang or Jim Whitney on bass, Willard B Dyson Jr, Joe Strasser or Jordan Perlson on drums, amongst others. Check out my Paster, Ryan & Hall CDs to hear me in a trio format.
Grupo Yanqui
(Acoustic broad-based Latin Jazz)
Gregory Ryan and I share a love for modern Afro-Cuban and Afro-Latin jazz. Grupo Yanqui is the band we founded in 2000 to play our original music that’s influences start with these styles and extend into Brazilian, funk and R&B and elsewhere. We have two CDs: Grupo Yanqui and Grupo Yanqui Rides Again. Core personnel include: me (piano), Chris Cheek (tenor Sax), Yosvany Terry (alto sax & chekere), Alex Norris (trumpet), Gregory Ryan (bass), Keith Hall (drums) and Gilad (perc)
I’m working on a new project: Trio Brasileiro that’s seems like an offshoot of Grupo Yanqui- we’re playing a new book of compositions of mine that are heavily Brazilian-influenced. We’ve performed a few times and we’ve just started to record some of these tunes. Stay tuned for more information- in the meantime, here are some sound samples. This band features me on piano and Rhodes, Freddie Bryant on guitar, Gregory Ryan on bass, Alex Kautz on drums and Gilad on percussion.