Benji Kaplan

Benji is a Brazilian, jazz and classical guitarist, Vocalist and Composer from NYC. He began playing at age 11, and by age 14 was playing solo jazz, Brazilian and classical guitar performances in New York city and the greater New York area in country clubs, restaurants, recital halls and for Weddings. At 18, Benji went to Brazil to study and learn more about Brazilian music and culture, traveling to the North and South of Brazil, discovering more deeply, his love for samba, Bossa Nova, Choro, and Baiao. Upon returning to NYC he began studying at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary music where he completed his studies as a Jazz Performance major in the spring of 2007. He has since performed in venues such as Prince George Ball Room, Sweet Rhythm, Dizzy's Club at Lincoln Center, The Zinc Bar, Caffe Vivaldi, Smalls, and many others. In 2011 Benji released his 2nd solo album of his latest compositions entitled "Meditacoes no Violao" (Guitar Meditations) and charted # 2 on CMJ Jazz and # 3 on CMJ World music.

Reviews:

"A guitar player with impeccable technique and fluency. Meditacoes no Violao (guitar meditations) is a collection of poetic and refined compositions, played with a perfect balance of intellect and emotion".

- JazzTimes


"A New York kid with Brazil in his blood and what appears to be a lightning mind"

-MIDWEST RECORD REVIEW



Benji is equally comfortable performing in Solo guitar settings playing classical, Brazilian or jazz repertoire, singing and playing Bossa Nova, or playing Jazz standards in trio, duo or solo format, whether it be a Cocktail Hour Reception, Corporate Event, Wedding Ceremony or a Birthday Party. Repertoire includes music from artists such as Jobim, Joao Gilberto, Wes Montgomery, Charlie Parker, Chico Buarque, Gershwin, Bach, Joao Pernambuco, Villa Lobos and many others

• All The Things You Are - Jerome Kern
• Adeus America - Haroldo Barboso
• Aquarela Do Brasil - Ary Barroso
• Autumn Leaves - Joseph Kosma
• A Felicidade - A.C. Jobim
• Autumn in New York - Vernon Duke
• Berimbau - Baden Powell
• Body and Soul - Johnny Green
• Bewitched - Rodgers and Heart
• Bye Bye Blackbird - Ray Henderson and Mort Dixon
• Corcovado - A.C. Jobim
• Chega de Saudade - A.C. Jobim
• Darn That Dream - Jimmy Van Heusen
• Days of Wine and Roses - Henry Mancini
• Deixa - Baden Powell
• Desafinado - A.C. Jobim
• Desde que o Samba - Caetano Veloso
• Everything Happens To Me - Matt Dennis
• Everytime we Say Goodbye - Cole Porter
• Fly me to the Moon - Bart Howard
• Folhas Secas - Nelson Cavaquinho
• Formosa - Baden Powell and Vinicius de Moraes
• Girl from Ipanema - A.C. Jobim
• How Insensitive - A.C. Jobim
• How High The Moon - Morgan Lewis
• Have You Met Miss Jones - Rodgers and Hart
• Isto aqui Io Io - Ary Barroso
• Indiana - James Hanley
• If I Should Lose You - Ralph Rainger
• I Hear A Rhapsody - Dick Gasparre
• In The Still Of The Night - Cole Porter
• Joao Valentao - Dorival Caymmi
• Just Friends - John Klenner
• Like Someone In Love - Jimmy Van Heusen
• Lapinha - Baden Powell
• Luz Negra - Nelson Cavaquinho
• Morena Boca de Ouro - Ary Barroso
• Mascarada - Ze Keti
• Meditation - A.C. Jobim
• Mean To Me - Fred E. Ahlert
• Moonlight In Vermont - John Blackburn & Karl Suessdorf
• My Funny Valentine - Rodgers And Hart
• Night And Day - Cole Porter
• Out Of Nowhere - Johnny Green
• Prelude to a Kiss - Duke Ellington

Anniversaries, Bachelor Parties, Bachelorette Parties, Banquets, Birthday Parties, Children's Birthday Parties, Celebrations, Christenings, Christmas Parties, Church Services, Clubs, Community Events, Conventions, Corporate Functions, Dinner Dances, Festivals, Fund Raisers, Funerals, Graduation Parties, Grand Openings, Halloween Parties, Picnic, Private Parties, Proms, Restaurants, Sweet 16 Parties, Weddings, Wedding Ceremonies, Wedding Cocktail Hours, Wedding Receptions...and more.

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