Benjamim Taubkin – solo piano

BT_at-Lifem-Festival--s(By-Tim-Ferguson)

Foto: Tim Ferguson

Taubkin is a wonderful jazz pianist and composer. Lopa Kothari, BBC RADIO 3

Their sound is built around Taubkin’s gorgeous, delicate, Keith Jarrett-tinged piano. Sophisticated, satisfying, serious stuff. SONGLINES

Brazilian piano star making waves with his sensual mix of flush traditional arrangements, cutting edge technique and contemporary harmony makes his UK debut. Catch him here before he starts selling out bigger venues.
 TIME OUT London

This is an album that is destined to become one of those delivered on a rarefied plane. Without doubt it will be remembered as one of the finest in 2010, or any other year.
 LATIN JAZZ NETWORK

Based on his most recent CD, the Brazilian pianist Benjamim Taubkin presents a repertoire that includes original works as well as compositions by Jobim, Coltrane, and Pixinguinha, allowing the extraordinary talent that earned him such praise as “delightfully minimalist” (from the All Music Guide) to truly shine on his first solo CD. Taubkin spent three nights alone in the Fazioli Piano Salon in New York, performing on three different pianos to record the CD, in what the pianist refers to as “almost a magical experience.”

Although this CD is only his second solo recording, Benjamim Taubkin has more than 130 albums to his credit as a producer and musician. In addition to his jazz project, Trio +1, his recent projects have included the Latin American collective América Contemporânea and the Orquestra Popular de Câmara. In 1997, Taubkin founded Núcleo Contemporâneo, an independent label and production company, dedicated to the popular instrumental music of Brazil

Benjamim has toured with this concert in Spain, New York, and twice in London, performing at the renowned Vortex Jazz Club and at the Lifem Festival and got great reviews among the press.

Watch Benjamim’s performance at the Vortex Jazz Club here.

Facebook

vimeo.com/16583545 (em Londres)

www.canallondres.tv/Canallondres_Musica_Brasileira_em_Londres__Benjamin_Taubkin.html (em Londres)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6aBFnWi24s (Sobre o livro “Viver de Música”)

mais.uol.com.br/view/xiddtuwnvlqs/metropolis–entrevista-com-o-musico-benjamim-taubkin-04028C9A3572E0B91326?types=A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMVVzzeBJNI

Discography

A Pequena Loja da Rua 57 [Adventure Music/Núcleo Contemporâneo, 2010]

Digipack.indd

Record live in New York, at the Fazioli Salon, one of the most renowned pianos nowadays, the CD has gathered very good reviews in Brazil and the US. Among the themes, there are songs by Tom Jobim, Coltrane and Pixinguinha, as well, as his own compositions.

With this CD Benjamim has toured in London twice, in 2009 performing at the Vortex Jazz Club, and in 2010 at the Lifem Festival.  

Pro Frank

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A melodia e a Semente

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Biography

Benjamim-Taubkin

Foto: LM

Brazilian music has been the playing field for this instrumentalist, arranger, composer, and producer.

Benjamim Taubkin started his studied at the age of 18 and soon begin to dedicate himself fully to this career, working in important plays such as Ópera do Malandro and 39 of Flávio Rangel; and at contemporary dance studios like Ruth Rachou, Klaus Viana and Clarisse Abujamra. Inspire by the desire of playing jazz and bossa nova, he performed in music venues in São Paulo.

In 1997, he released his first album A Terra e o Espaço Aberto, which has just original themes. Beside Toninho Carrasqueira, Lui Coimbra, Teco Cardoso, Caíto Marcondes and Marcos Suzano, the CD was nominated by two important awards in Brazil: Sharp and Movimento.

As a musician he has participated in several formations, ranging from solo work to symphonic orchestras – presented in Brazil and abroad. He has performed with prestigious artists such as Marcos Suzano, Banda Savana, Rafael Rabello, Zizi Possi, Moacir Santos, Paulo Moura, Mônica Salmaso, Hermeto Paschoal.

His current projects as musician and director include: the Latin american collective América Contemporânea, the Orquestra Popular de Câmara, the choro ensemble Moderna Tradição, his work with the traditional music group Abaçai and his jazz project Trio + 1.

Some of the most recent projects he’s participated in as musician and arranger include: Jobim Sinfônico, Samwad – Rua do Encontro, which promoted dialogue between Brazil and India; and Milágrimas, which celebrated the encounter with South Africa.

In his solo career he recorded his second CD in New York at Fazioli Salon, one of the most prestigious piano house nowadays. The album will be released in the US by Adventure Music and then in Brasil by Núcleo Contemporâneo. With this work, Benjamim has been performing in important venues and festivals, such as The Vortex Jazz Club, in London, and at Ruta del Cister, in Spain. And he did in 2009 an artistic residence in Austria, invited as composer and instrumentalist in Krems.

Since, 1997, Benjamim is the director of Núcleo Contemporâneo, an independent label and producer company, dedicated to the popular instrumental music from Brazil.

He has been traveling in South and Center America aiming to know more about those countries’ music production, seeking to promote dialogue and exchange networking.

As musician or producer Benjamim is in more than 130 albums and directed around 500 concerts.
He is the curator for Mercado Cultural da Bahia, a platform focused on Brazilian and Latin American music; and for ELA – Encontro Latino-Americano, a forum to discusse the new paths for the latin music. Benjamim is on board of the European Forum for Worldwide Music Festivals (2008 – 2010), and he participates frequently of conferences and meetings around the world.

Among the most important festivals and venues where he performed, are: Joe’s Pub, Disney Hall, e Fazioli Salon (USA), Teatro Amadeo Roldán (Cuba); Orquestra do Rio Infinito (Costa Rica and Nicaragua); Festival Internacional de Jazz de Punta del Este, Oficina de Música Brasileira na Universidade de Montevidéo (Uruguay); Festival Rudolstadt, Massala Festival e Rádio WDR (Germany), Festival Glatt und Verkehrt (Austria), Auditori Barcelona and the festivals Etnosur, Kesse, La Garrida and Ruta del Cister (Spain); The Vortex Jazz Club (UK); Sfinks (Belgium); Ópera de Paris (France); Festival Timitar (Morocco); Festival III Delphic Games (Korea); and Oficina de Música de Curtiba, do Festival Instrumental da Bahia, Sabará Instrumental, Festa da Música e Música na Pampulha, Festival de Jazz de Guaramiranga, Projeto Prelúdios da Primavera, Olinda Jazz Festival e MIMO – Mostra Internacional de Música em Olinda, Auditório Ibirapuera, TUSP, Galeria Olido, SESCs, Centro Cultural São Paulo, Casa de Francisca, Memorial da América Latina, Sampa Jazz, Virada Cultural da cidade e do estado, Festival de Choro no Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil (Brazil).

TOUR

2011

ABR
7 Abr – Benjamim Taubkin e Morena Nascimento @ Araraquara, SP
15 Mar – Benjamim Taubkin Piano Solo @ Caixa Cultural, Curitiba, PR
23 a 27 Fev às 21:00 – Palesstra Benjamim Taubkin @ Porto Musical, Recife
23 Jan às 21:00 – Benjamim Taubkin com Moderna Tradição @ Casa de Francisca, São Paulo
1 Fev às 20:00 – Benjamim Taubkin com Pequena Orquestra Contemporânea da terra @ Casa do Núcleo, SP

2010

17.12 – Um Diálogo entre a Música e a Dança, espetáculo de Benjamim Taubkin e Morena Nascimento
13.12 – Soukest convida Benjamim Taubkin
12.12 – Benjamim Taubkin e Núcleo de Música do Abaçaí no Palácio das Artes
10.12 – Benjamim Taubkin Piano Solo na Funarte, São Paulo
13.11 – Núcleo de Música do Abaçaí na Casa de Francisa
12.11 – Moderna Tradição na Casa de Francisa
06.11 – Benjamim Taubkin Piano Solo, Kings Place, Londres
17.10 – Benjamim Taubkin e convidados no auditório do Ibirapuera
16.10 Benjamim Taubkin e convidados no auditório do Ibirapuera
26.09 – Benjamim Taubkin e Imourane Quartet no Olinda Jazz – Mercado da Ribeira
19.09 – Nooite Moura: Benjamim Taubkin e Imourane Quartet – Sampa Jazz – Auditório do Ibirapuera
12.09 – Benjamim Taubkin convida Morena Nascimento no Centro da Cultura Judaica, São Paulo
11.09 – Oficina e concerto com Grupo Bongar na Casa do Núcleo, São Paulo
30.08. Soukest (Simone Soul e Guilherme Kastrup) convida Benjamim Taubkin
28.08 – Roda de choro com Moderna Tradição e convidados, Casa do Núcleo, São Paulo
21.08 – Trio + 1 convida Amos Hoffman (oud e guitar) no Centro da Cultura Judaica
01.08 – Benjamim Taubkin, Denis Duarte e Sério Machado
29.07 – Benjamim Taubkin, Frederico Heliodoro e Antonio Loureiro, Teatro Dom Silvério, Belo Horizonte, MG
23.07 – Benjamim Taubkin com Joao Taubkin, Denis Duarte e Mario Gaiotto, Kabul, São Paulo
28.06 – Benjamim Taubkin e Núcleo de Música do Abaçaí @ Casa de Francisca, São Paulo
26.06 – Benjamim Taubkin e Núcleo de Música do Abaçaí @ SESC São José dos Campos, SP
27.06 – Benjamim Taubkin e núcleo de música do Abaçaí – Casa de Francisca
26.06 – Festa Junina em Obras
25.06 – Benjamim Taubkin e núcleo de música do Abaçaí – SESC São José dos Campos
18.06 – Benjamim Taubkin com Moderna Tradição @ Teatro Municipal Teotônio Vilela
17.06 – Benjamim Taubkin com Denis Duarte, Joao Taubkin e Mario Gaiotto @ Kabul, São Paulo
12.06 – Benjamim Taubkin Piano Solo – Centro Cultural Vergueiro
28.05 – Benjamim Taubkin com Denis Duarte, João Taubkin e Sérgio Machado @ Jazz nos Fundos
26.05 – Benjamim Taubkin Piano Solo @Teatro Municipal
26.05 – Benjamim convida Denis Duarte, João Taubkin e Sérgio Machado @ Jazz nos Fundos
21.05 – Benjamim convida Denis Duarte, João Taubkin e Sérgio Machado @ Jazz nos Fundos
14.05. Benjamim convida Denis Duarte, João Taubkin e Sérgio Machado @ Jazz nos Fundos
07.05 – Benjamim convida Denis Duarte, João Taubkin e Sérgio Machado @ Jazz nos Fundos
24.04 – Benjamim Taubkin com Moderna Tradição @ Teatro Sala Glória Rocha, Jundiaí
23.04 – Benjamim Taubkin com Moderna Tradição @ Teatro Ralino Zambotto, Itatiba
21.04 – Benjamim Taubkin com Celia Mara @ Vienna, Austria
20.04 – Benjamim Taubkin com Celia Mara @ Cankarjev Dom, Ljubljana, Slovenia
16.04 – Benjamim Taubkin com Celia Mara @ Bühnenwirtshaus Junter, Gutenbrunn, Austria
16.04 – Benjamim Taubkin com Celia Mara @ Ramise, Bludenz, Austria
21.03 – Moderna Tradição e Núcleo Música do Abaçaí no Centro da Cultura Judaica
26 e 27.02 – Moderna Tradição na Casa de Francisca
21.03 – Benjamim Taubkin e Núcleo de Música do Abaçaí @ Centro C. Judaica
18.06- Sorocaba – Teatro Municipal Teotônio Vilela, Sorocaba
07.01- Trio + 1 no Festival Internacional de Jazz de Punta del Este

2009

Tour – Brasil
13.12.09 – Trio + 1 @ Parque Municipal
26.11.09 – Benjamim Taubkin e Núcleo de Música do Abaçaí @ Casa de Francisca
13.11.09 – Benjamim Taubkin e Núcleo de Música do Abaçaí @ Mogi das Cruzes, SP
14.11.09 – Benjamim Taubkin e Moderna Tradição @ Campos do Jordão, SP
28.11.09 – Benjamim Taubkin e Núcleo de Música do Abaçaí @ Jandira, SP
27.11.09 – Benjamim Taubkin e Núcleo de Música do Abaçaí @ Dois Córregos, SP
21.11.09 – Benjamim Taubkin e Moderna Tradição @ Orlândia, SP
06, 07 e 09.11 – Benjamim Taubkin e convidados no Auditório Ibirapuera
04.10.09 – Benjamim Taubkin e Núcleo de Música do Abaçaí na Casa de Francisca, São Paulo, SP
03.10.09 – 04.10.09 – Benjamim Taubkin e Núcleo de Música do Abaçaí @ Casa de Francisca, São Paulo, SP
13.09.09 – Benjamim Taubkin e Núcleo de Música do Abaçaí @ Coreia do Sul
02.09.09 – Dr Morris e os vivos convida Benjamim Taubkin @ Tusp, São Paulo, SP
28.08.09 – Benjamim Taubkin e América Contemporânea @ Memorial da América Latina, São Paulo, SP
27.08.09 – Benjamim Taubkin e América Contemporânea @ Projeto Sabará Musical, Sabará, MG

TOUR Europa e Marrocos

02.07 – Benjamim Taubkin Quarteto com Ari Colares, Lula Alencar & João Taubkin at Timitar Festival, Agadir, Marocco
18.07 – Piano solo no Festival Ruta del Cister Festival, Tarragona, Espanha
19.07 – Convidado especial no concerto de Roger Mas no FIMPT, Vilanova i la Geltrú (Barcelona), Espanha
24.07 – Benjamim Taubkin & ensembles Moderna Tradição & Núcleo de Música do Abaçaí no Festival Glatt und Verkehrt, Krems, Viena
28.07 – Piano solo no The Vortex Jazz Club, Londres, Inglaterra

Tour – Brasil

20.06.09 – Benjamim Taubkin palestra @ Porto Musical, Recife, PE
14.06.09 – Benjamim Taubkin e Núcleo de Música do Abaçaí @ Bar Brahma do Aeroclube, São Paulo, SP
13.06.09 – Benjamim Taubkin e Núcleo de Música do Abaçaí @ Galeria Olido
9.06.09 – Benjamim Taubkin e Núcleo de Música do Abaçaí @ Espaço Cachuera!, São Paulo, SP
17.05.09 – Orquestra Contemporânea da Terra @ Virada Cultural Paulista, Jundiaí
2.05.09 – Benjamim Taubkin e Núcleo de Música do Abaçaí – Virada Cultura de São Paulo
15 e 16.04.09 – Rodrigo Campos convida Benjamim Taubkin e convidados – Tucarena, São Paulo, SP
21.02.09 – Trio + 1 – Festival de JAzz de Guaramiranga, CE
17.02.09 – Benjamim Taubkin e Moderna Tradição no CCBB RJ, RJ
28.01.09 – América Contemporânea – Oficina de Música de Curitiba, PR
23.01.09 – Benjamim Taubkin espcial para a Revista Gafieiras

2008

06.012.08 – BT e América Contemporânea @ Mercado Cultural da Bahia, Salvador, BA
28.11.08 – BT e América Contemporânea @ Encontro Latino-americano – Novos Caminhos para a música, São Paulo, SP
12.09.08 – BT e América Contemporânea @ Projeto Prelúdios da Primavera, Dourados, MS
10.09.08 -  BT e América Contemporânea @ Espaço Cachuera!, São Paulo, SP
07.09.08 – BT e América Contemporânea @ Projeto Festa da Música, Belo Horizonte, MG
05.09.08 – BT e América Contemporânea @ Projeto MIMO, Olinda , PE
24.07.08 – BT e Moderna Tradição @ Festival Galtt & Verkehrt, Krems, Áustria
21.07.08 – BT e América Contemporânea @ Festival La Garriga, La Garringa, Espanha
20.07.08 – BT e América Contemporânea @ Festival Kesse, Tarragona, Espanha
17.07.08 – BT e América Contemporânea @ Festival Etnosur, Jaén, Espanha
18.05.08 – BT e Moderna Tradição @ Virada Cultural Paulista, Mogi das Cruzes, SP
17.04.08 – BT e América Contemporânea com Orquesta de Río Infinito @ San Carlos, Nicaragua
15.04.08 – BT e América Contemporânea com Orquesta de Río Infinito @ Costa Rica
13.04.08 – BT e América Contemporânea com Orquesta de Río Infinito @ Concierto Alajuela, Parque Santamaría, Costa Rica
12.04.08 – BT e América Contemporânea com Orquesta de Río Infinito @ San José, Parque de la Sabana, Costa Rica

Myspace

Reviews


“Played in a tender, understated style that spoke from the heart, “Vibrações” was gracefully ecstatic; Jobim’s “Morro Não Tem Vez”, a lyric, gentle samba, was light but rich; “Sabiá Voou” evoked the attentive birds outside Benjamim’s window in São Paulo; and ‘Consolação’ went so deeply into the cone that I forgot I was supposed to be paying attention”
Tom Greenland, All About Jazz

“Benjamim searches for the beauty. And he reaches it in every possible aesthetic element”
Paulo Cunha, Jornal da tarde

“A tender and Gismontian journey through Brazilian music” (referring to Egberto Gismonti style)
Mauro Dias, Estado de São Paulo

“Benjamim’s compositions bring a total understanding of Brazilian music, a great cd”
(reviewing his first CD A Terra e o Espaço Aberto)
Luís Antônio Giron, Gazeta Mercantil

“Great arrangements were built around the lush piano of Benjamim Taubkin”
(about his work with the singer Zizi Possi)
The New Tork Times

“Benjamin Taubkin has a jazzy touch on the piano, comfortable with everything from pop to samba”
(about his work with the singer Zizi Possi)
New York Newsday

Joanne Brackeen; Benjamin Taubkin at Klavierhaus

Klavierhaus, situated in the heart of midtown’s Piano Row, has hosted a memorable Friday series of salon concerts featuring a variety of eclectically-minded keyboardists. Interestingly, something mysterious seems to happen when these artists spread their fingers across a magnificent Fazioli grand piano, a temperamental mistress that gives as good as she gets. Joanne Brackeen tried her hands on one Nov. 9th, playing a mixture of standards (“How Deep Is the Ocean?” “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered”, “Alone Together”) and originals (“Picasso”, “5th Avenue Flat” and “Haiti-B”) in an impressive outing of imaginative improvisations. Seemingly captivated by the boisterous and brassy bass register of the haus Fazioli, Brackeen applied her spidery fingers with fearsome bravado, ‘strumming’ flamboyant rasqueados on the flamenco-esque “Picasso” and pounding out electric figures in “5th Avenue Flat”. “This piano is a lot of fun to play,” she remarked at one point. The second set was of another ilk altogether, with Brazilian pianist Benjamin Taubkin embodying a yin to Brackeen’s yang, playing in a tender, understated style that spoke from the heart. “Vibraçoes” was gracefully ecstatic; Jobim Morro Nao’s “Mojo Tem Vez”, a lyric, gentle samba, was light but rich; “Sabia Voou” evoked the attentive birds outside of Taubkin’s window in São Paulo; and “Consolaçao” went so deeply into the zone that I forgot I was supposed to be paying attention.

Tom Greenland

Gallery

Lifem Festival London. UK, 2010