Benny Green Masterclass

St. Mary’s University Department of Music and Theatre Arts and The Texas Jazz Society present Benny Green Masterclass Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026 4:30 p.m. Treadaway Hall, Recital Hall Combine mastery of keyboard technique with decades of real-world experience, playing with some of the most celebrated artists of the last half century, and it’s no wonder Benny Green has been hailed as one of the most exciting, hard-swinging pianists to ever emerge from Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. Benny is the bearer of the torch and guardian of a legacy handed down to him personally by his musical mentors. Since emerging under the tutelage of Betty Carter, Art Blakey, Freddie Hubbard and Ray Brown in the early 1980s, Benny has become a highly regarded pianist and bandleader in his own right. Benny Green’s list of credits, accomplishments and accolades could literally fill a book. His recordings with the masters form a foundation of jazz education. Benny has appeared on well over one hundred recordings with legacy artists such as Betty Carter (including the GRAMMY Award winner Look What I Got), Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers, Freddie Hubbard, Bobby Watson, Milt Jackson and Diana Krall. Benny has also been particularly featured in Ray Brown’s trio series of albums for the Telarc record label. Benny’s recording career as a bandleader and solo artist began in the late 1980s, being featured on many of the most notable jazz record labels (Criss Cross, Blue Note, Telarc and Sunnyside). His approach to jazz can be resumed in his own words: “… for myself and a lot of musicians I admire, the main focus is to just swing and have fun, and share those feelings with the audience … and if I’m able to convey that, then I feel like I’m doing something positive.” Join us for this very special opportunity! For more information, contact Jennifer Greulich at [email protected].