NEWS Welcome! Thanks for stopping by BennettPaster.com. You can find information here about me and my music. Please look around and enjoy some of the free mp3s of my projects.

Grupo Yanqui World Tour: February 2006 A quartet version of my Latin jazz band Grupo Yanqui, featuring Gregory Ryan, Keith Hall and trumpeter Jim Seeley and me, has just returned from an international tour as part of the prestigious 2006 Jazz at Lincoln Center / US State Department's The Rhythm Road program. We traveled for 4 weeks performing and teaching masterclasses in Sweden, Russia, Estonia and Serbia-Montenegro. This trip gave us a chance to foster positive, creative change on behalf of our country and it enabled us to visit some amazing parts of the world that many Westerners never see.   Grupo Yanqui rocking Cafe Von Krahl in Tallinn, Estonia   Read about our Grupo Yanqui tour and see some photos at my new blog: Ruminations from the Road. Jan, 2006: Organic! is currently finishing our second CD "Sweets," featuring our new drummer Yuval Lion. This trio played a a residency at the Baz Bar in St. Barth's, FWI Dec 27, '05-Jan 8, '06. We played nightly with legendary Hawaiian singer John Cruz and did two shows with island favorite Jimmy Buffett. Visit organicnyc.com for pictures and more info. May, 2005: Organic! selected as Unsigned Artist of the Month by Keyboard Magazine. Carl Lumma lauded the debut CD by Organic!, The Undoing saying: “gonzo musicianship, telepathic group interplay, and some mindbending effects combine for a thoroughly engaging listen.” Find the full text of the review on our Press/Photos page.

In April, 2005 I traveled to Jacksonville Florida to compete as a finalist in the 2005 Great American Jazz Piano Competition. I performed in front of a supportive audience of almost 1000 people, playing several songs with house rhythm section that included drummer Danny Gottleib and bassist Richard Drexler. It was a fun weekend of playing music and meeting other musicians from around the country. When the music was over and the judges cast their votes, I was proud to have won 2nd place. March 2006: I just got word that I've been selected again as a finalist for the 2006 GAJP competition. The concert is April 6th- wish me luck!

New Trio CD: Skyline Along with bassist Gregory Ryan and drummer Keith Hall, I have released an acoustic piano trio CD called Skyline. This album showcases our broad vision of modern jazz. Though totally swinging, the CD covers significantly more ground. Our insightful, melodic original compositions incorporate R&B, funk and Latin grooves with comfortable authority. Plus, we've included our arrangements of several favorite standards. Skyline is ripe with “the Good Feeling,” check it out! * * * * * I'm currently working with two of my favorite singer-songwriters, Justin Tracy and Marko Pankovich (from Sweet Cane) on separate album projects. I will be co-producing each artist's project with him and parts of each recording will be done at my studio, Benny's Wash & Dry. Stay tuned here for more news about these upcoming recordings. Gregory Ryan and I are working on a new recording with long-time Spyro Gyra drummer Joel Rosenblatt, guitarist Vinny Valentino and percussionist Gilad. Greg is playing electric bass and I'm rocking the Fender Rhodes and Minimoog. This "dream rhythm section" explores original funk, jazz and Latin compositions in a setting that blends trusted musical connections with the freshness of new relationships. Saxophonist Chris Cheek also appears on a few tracks and contributes a composition to the date.