Benny Benack III – This is the life  

 

Behind the Velvet Curtain: The Secrets of Benny Benack III ’s ‘This Is The Life ’

Listening to a well-recorded live jazz album is always a special experience. There is an intangible chemistry and spontaneity between musicians and audience that a studio recording simply cannot capture. That’s exactly what trumpeter and vocalist Benny Benack III delivers on This Is The Life, his first live album, co-produced by Christian Wiggs and released on Bandstand Presents. A Pittsburgh native and third generation musician—his grandfather was a trumpeter, and his father, Benny Benack Jr., a saxophonist featured on this record—Benny brings a vibrant energy recorded live at the Blue Llama Jazz Club in Ann Arbor, MI, on Labor Day 2024. Joining him are stellar musicians Mathis Picard (piano), Russell Hall (bass), and Joe Peri (drums).

A Dynamic and Diverse Setlist

The set features mostly jazz standards alongside a few original instrumentals by Benack and a surprising pop cover finale. From the opening title track “This Is The Life,” Benny commands the stage with effortless fluency in both trumpet and vocals. His warm welcome—“How are you feeling Blue Llama? Let’s make a record! This is the life!”—sets an infectious tone of joy and energy. His seamless transitions between singing and trumpet solos make it feel like two soloists are performing simultaneously. The band’s swinging groove invites listeners to stay immersed for hours, as Benack himself notes at the close of the next track, a fresh take on The Sound of Music. His respectful yet modern interpretation incorporates a playful nod to Stevie Wonder’s Sir Duke, segueing into a bass solo by Russell Hall, affectionately dubbed “Captain Blackbeard” by Benack. The tune closes with an open vamp, where musicians trade phrases and revel in the improvisational moment.

Originals and Intimate Ballads

“Song for Our Roger,” an instrumental original, pays tribute to Pittsburgh drummer Roger Humphries, who famously played on Horace Silver’s Song for My Father. Benny’s father joins him here on tenor saxophone, adding a familial warmth to the track. On the samba-infused When You Are Smiling, a Tin Pan Alley classic popularized by Louis Armstrong, Benny’s father switches to clarinet, while Benny shines on scat vocals, showcasing inventive phrasing and clever lyrical citations during the stop chorus.

Another original, Sugar & Spice, highlights Benny’s talents not only as a trumpeter and vocalist but as a composer. The Afro-Cuban rhythm infuses the set with vibrant energy, allowing each band member space to shine—Benny Jr.’s bluesy tenor solo contrasts beautifully with his son’s virtuosic trumpet work. The group’s effortless groove shifts between Afro-Cuban and swing, leading into a brief bass-piano interplay before drummer Joe Peri takes the spotlight with a compelling solo.

Benny’s gift for ballad interpretation is clear on Crazy She Calls Me, a tune famously recorded by Billie Holiday. Performed as an intimate duet with Picard on piano, their nuanced dynamics reveal the artistry of two exceptional musicians.

A Surprising, Playful Finale

The Rodgers and Hammerstein classic Some Enchanted Evening swings at a medium tempo, with Benack delivering a rhythmically and tonally complex trumpet solo that even references the tune Wee. Spring in Manhattan, rendered as a bossa nova, pays homage to the late Tony Bennett, featuring a dynamic piano solo from Picard, whom Benack praises, saying, “Mathis Picard knows a thing or two about that.”

On Pure Imagination—a whimsical 5/4 arrangement from the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory—Benack and the band display rhythmic sophistication while maintaining a soft, fluent feel. The track evolves from delicate vocals into a swinging piano solo and culminates in a playful vamp trading drum and trumpet solos.

The album’s final jazz standard is the well-known Blue Moon, where Benny’s medium swing and warm vocals, including a charming “I’m in love” after Picard’s piano solo, underscore his deep respect for jazz tradition. He closes with the outro vamp Without a Love, trading vocal lines with the audience—a moment you could listen to endlessly, as he himself suggested at the start of the set.

In a thrilling and unexpected contrast, the album ends with a salsa-infused cover of the ‘90s pop hit Everybody (Backstreet’s Back) written by Max Martin for boy band Backstreet Boys. This playful finale exemplifies how skilled musicians can transform even modern pop hits into jazz standards of tomorrow.

Final Verdict: A Stellar Showcase of Versatility

Even if you’re unfamiliar with Benny Benack III’s previous work, This Is The Life is the perfect place to start. The album displays his exceptional virtuosity both as a trumpeter and vocalist—so fluent in both that it’s impossible to separate the two. Rather than simply following in the footsteps of jazz legends, Benack honors the tradition while carving out a unique and fresh musical horizon of his own. This live recording is a vibrant testament to his talent and a joyful celebration of jazz in the here and now.

Release date: June 27, 2025

Photos: Conor Schall

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