Home » Jazz Musicians » Benjamin Drazen

Benjamin Drazen

Benjamin Drazen is a native New Yorker, and grew up in Roslyn, NY. He got his frist great jazz saxophone education from the late great Dave Burns. (Dave was a master trumpeter with the Dizzy Gillespie and Duke Ellington Orchestras as well as leading his own groups) A graduate of the prestigious New England Conservatory of Music, Mr. Drazen studied with such legends as Jimmy Jiuffre, George Garzone, John McNeil, and Celil McBee. He also studied with the great Dave Liebman just before returning to NYC. From these influences Benjamin has crafted his own jazz style coming out of the traditions of Charlie Parker, Cannonball Adderley, Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane.

Since being back in NYC in 1995, Benjamin has performed alongside some of jazz's best including, Rashied Ali(John Coltrane's Drummer 1965-67) George Garzone, Gene Jackson, Ron McClure, Lew Soloff, Santi Debriano, Marvin "Bugalu" Smith and Ron Affif. He performs regularly on the New York scene with his own quartet, playing original and standard compositions. Benjamin has performed as a leader and sideman in New York's most acclaimed jazz clubs including: The Blue Note, Birdland, Smalls, Mintons Playhouse, Smoke, Cornelia St. Cafe, The Knitting Factory, 55 Bar, and Sweet Rhythm. In addition he has worked all over The United States and Canada as a leader and sideman.

Although Jazz has been Benjamin's forte, he also is a lover and performer of many types of music including Funk, R&B and Salsa. He has performed with such legends as Clarence Clemons of Bruce Springsteens E St. Band and Jimmy Sabater. (Joe Cuba, Tito Puente) and Stephanie Renee from Jill Scotts Group.

Mr. Drazen currently resides in Manhattan, NYC where he continues to lead his own quartet. His debut CD entitled Inner Flights on the Positone label will be released March 1st, 2011. Benjamin is currently a member of the Peter Fish Group, Chris Masseys Nue Jazz Project, Charlie Persips Big Band "Supersound" and is a sideman with several NYC small jazz groups. Benjamin is also an active private saxophone teacher sharing his love of his instrument and jazz to his many students.

Recent recordings include; Marvin Bugalu Smith Quintet, Chris Masseys "Vibrainium", Brooke Sofferman's "Symposium", Peter Fish Group "Live at the 55 Bar", Laurent Medelgi's "Diverses" and Marlon D's "Love is the key".

Tags

373
Take Five With...

Take Five With Benjamin Drazen

Read "Take Five With Benjamin Drazen" reviewed by Benjamin Drazen


Meet Benjamin Drazen: Benjamin Drazen is a native New Yorker, and grew up in Roslyn, NY. He got his frist great jazz saxophone education from the late great Dave Burns. (Dave was a master trumpeter with the Dizzy Gillespie and Duke Ellington Orchestras as well as leading his own groups) A graduate of the prestigious New England Conservatory of Music, Drazen studied with such legends as Jimmy Giuffre, George Garzone, John McNeil, and Cecil McBee. He also studied ...

218
Album Review

Benjamin Drazen: Inner Flights

Read "Inner Flights" reviewed by David A. Orthmann


Alto and soprano saxophonist Benjamin Drazen's smashing debut recording as a leader contains all of the essential ingredients for a meaningful mainstream jazz record. The leader's seven original compositions are a diverse, substantial, and pleasantly familiar lot. Drazen and pianist Jon Davis, the disc's primary soloists, play in the moment and think their way through improvisations instead of endlessly spewing licks mastered in the practice room. The rhythm section, comprised of Davis, bassist Carlo DeRosa, and drummer Eric McPherson, evinces ...

134
Album Review

Benjamin Drazen: Inner Flights

Read "Inner Flights" reviewed by Raul d'Gama Rose


Inside Benjamin Drazen is an old soul, nestling cheek-by-jowl in a fertile mind, brimful with new ideas that undulate and flow beautifully from his alto saxophone. That he is able to take control of this force, and harness its power to open a virtual door to the temple of his muses--running the gamut of saxophonists from Charlie Parker to John Coltrane, and almost certainly including the mighty Johnny Hodges--speaks volumes about his mature craftsmanship. He has something else that shines ...

173
Album Review

Benjamin Drazen: Inner Flights

Read "Inner Flights" reviewed by Bruce Lindsay


Benjamin Drazen has been on the New York scene for over 15 years, working with established players including Lew Soloff, George Garzone and Rashied Ali. The saxophonist cannot be accused of being in a hurry to get his name on a CD cover: a 15-year wait to release a debut is a lifetime in today's scene, where graduation can, all-too-often, take place after a young player's CD launch party. Inner Flights has been, however, worth the wait. Drazen and his ...

161
Album Review

Benjamin Drazen: Inner Flights

Read "Inner Flights" reviewed by A. Lienhard


Alto saxophonist Benjamin Drazen has been plying his trade around Manhattan's network of small jazz bars--places like 55 Bar, Smalls, and The Garage--for over a decade. At long last, the New York native unveils his debut outing, Inner Flights. In a program of mostly original music, Drazen consistently delivers strong post-Coltrane fire, with a sound that lies somewhere between Jackie McLean and Gary Bartz. Paired with Drazen, his band is a juggernaut, everyone possessed of the frenetic, driving pulse destined ...

152
Album Review

Benjamin Drazen: Inner Flights

Read "Inner Flights" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


The peaceful, John Lennon-like face on the cover of Inner Flights is merely a mask. Behind that calm exterior is a musician with killer instincts and serious chops. Sure, saxophonist Benjamin Drazen can be calm and graceful when he wants to, as he is on Inner Flights' closing track, “Polka Dots And Moonbeams," but more often than not, Drazen takes to the skies in spectacularly soaring flights. On his debut album, Drazen dives head first into music ...

Read more articles
116

Performance / Tour

Saxophonist Benjamin Drazen Performs at the 55 Bar, September 8, 2011

Saxophonist Benjamin Drazen Performs at the 55 Bar, September 8, 2011

Source: Seton Hawkins

Saxophonist Benjamin Drazen brings his ensemble—including pianist Roy Assaf, bassist Francois Mouton, and drummer Tony Moreno—to the 55 Bar for a performance on Thursday, September 8, at 7:00 p.m. Praised by Jazz Times as a “potent alto saxophonist" who plays “with soulful authority," Benjamin Drazen has performed alongside some of jazz's luminaries, including Rashied Ali, George Garzone, and Lew Soloff. A dynamic bandleader and composer, Drazen recently celebrated the release of his debut CD, Inner Flights (Positone Records, 2011). For ...

"With Inner Flights, Benjamin Drazen has created a complete and lasting work of meaning that's an early contender for best debut album of 2011." - Dan Bilawsky, All About Jazz

"From the opening moments of Inner Flights, his debut release as a leader, the fiery alto and soprano saxophonist swings unrepentantly with blistering lines and a bold, Jackie McLean- inspired sounds." -John Barron, JazzReview.com

"It is easy to make comparisons to other great soprano saxophonists such as Dave Liebman." -Skip Spratt, Saxshed.com

Primary Instrument

Saxophone

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Credentials/Background

I have been teaching for 20 years. I teach everything from Classical reading, to jazz improv, to composition.

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Inner Flights

Posi-Tone Records
2011

buy

Videos

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.