KCC Productions and the Van Dyke Cafe present The John Benitez Ensemble
Thursday, November 3, at 9 PM
The Van Dyke
846 Lincoln Road
South Beach.

featuring John on bass, Manuel Valera, piano, Felip Lamoglia, sax, and Francis Benitez, drums
For more information, call 305-534-3600 or visit thevandykecafe.com.

Born in Puerto Rico, bassist John Benitez began playing gospel music in church at age 13. Soon he was performing with musicians such as Chick Corea, Batacumbele and Cuco Pena. He toured Colombia, playing with top musicians there before moving to New York City in 1993, where he attended the City College of New York, and studied with Ron Carter and Anthony Jackson.

In 1997 he recorded Habana with Roy Hargrove, earning a Grammy for Best Latin Performance. In 2001 he released his first album as leader, Descarga in New York. Benitez has performed with many well-known American and Latin artists including Lucecita Benitez, Batacumbele, Justo Betancourt, Joe Madrid, Wynton Marsalis, Cuco Pena, Tito Puente, Lalo Rodriguez, Hilton Ruiz, Dave Samuels, Chucho Valdez and Bobby Watson. Benitez has also recorded with numerous performers such as David Sanchez, Eddie Palmieri and Roy Hargrove’s Grammy award-winning Crisol Band.

He has participated in two instructional videos with master percussionist Giovanni Hildalgo and Cuban drummer Ignacio Berroa. He can also be seen on the national TV shows Good Morning America, The Today Show and Bet On Jazz.

Benitez has performed as sideman and featured special artist in all of the major jazz festivals and venues, and has recently released a second CD, Purpose. A prolific composer, arranger and producer, he’s also the man Eddie Palmieri dubbed “the greatest bass player in the world”.