Dudley Reed

Michael Benedict was born in Rome, NY in 1957. He started playing the drums at age 10 and was performing professionally by age 15. He took up the vibraphone at around age 16 and shortly thereafter started to play gigs on vibes as well as drums. Michael graduated from the Crane School of Music at the State University College at Potsdam, NY in 1979 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. Michael Later attended Rutgers University and graduated in 1990 with a Master’s Degree in Jazz Studies. At Rutgers, Michael was an assistant to Dan Morgenstern, the Director of Jazz Studies at Rutgers and former Downbeat Magazine editor.

As a drummer, Michael has worked with groups and individuals such as J.R. Monterose, Pete Malinverni, Loren Scohenberg, the Spike Jones Orchestra and the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra. He has toured the United States extensively performing at numerous concert halls, colleges and festivals including Michigan State University, Lincoln Center, Resorts International Casino in Atlantic City, the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C., West Point Academy, the Troy Music Hall in Troy, NY, the Brunknerhause in Lindt, Austria and the Waterloo Jazz Festival. His performances in jazz clubs include the Van Dyke in Schenectady, NY, Justin’s in Albany, NY and the Savoy Ballroom, Michael’s Pub, the Waldorf Astoria and Tavern on the Green in New York City.

Michael led a Jazz Big Band from 1994 until 2004. The Michael Benedict Big Band was filmed for a documentary film on the life of composer/arranger Gary McFarland by filmmaker Kristian St. Clair from Seattle, Washington. “This Is Gary McFarland” is currently being shown across the county and in Europe at various film festivals.

Michael started playing the vibraphone in 2006 again after many years away from the instrument and premiered his group, Michael Benedict Jazz Vibes. The group released its first CD called “The New Beat” which focused on the Brazilian/Jazz form, Bossa Nova. Backing up Michael are Greg Speck on piano, Linda Brown on bass, Mark Foster on drums and Brian Melick on percussion. Michael’s second CD “The Next Phase” features Dave Solazzo on piano, Mike DelPrete on bass, Joe Barna on drums, Lee Russo on tenor sax and Julia Donnaruma on vocals. The album features original compositions from Michael and the band members as well as by Yuko Kishimoto and Gary McFarland.