The second half of 2006 finds the trio taking the next step in its’ evolution, once again taking to the studio to self-produce its third and most original album yet. Benny Lackner attributes the success of the trios many tours and critically acclaimed records to the fact that theirs is a true band approach. “We operate as a collective, every member has equal input in terms of musical ideas that help develop the style and sound of the group.” The other key ingredient to this band sound is the careful selection of material. On record and in concert one will hear the band play everything from sharp and stylish original pieces, to inventive covers of popular songs by artists such as Bjork, Jimmy Hendrix, Prince, Nick Drake, Nena Feist, as well as insightful arrangements of the music of Mingus, Monk, and Gerschwin. Their sonic embellishments on the sound of the acoustic piano trio (slight electronic enhancements by Lackner and some drum programming by Perkins) give the overall sound a subtle yet modern, ambient feel. The Benny Lackner Trio has headlined at jazz clubs such as the Blue Note- NYC, Joe’s Pub-NYC, Joe Zawinul’s Birdland-Vienna and the A-Trane in Berlin and has toured the U.S.A., Germany, Austria, Turkey, Spain, Greece, Portugal, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Currently they tour in Europe every six months expanding their territory every time. They are scheduled to do at least two European tours in 2007 as well as several festivals.
About the musicians:
Born in Berlin, Benny Lackner, was raised on American folk songs and blues by his
California native father. Upon moving to America at 13, his jazz drummer uncle (Tom Lackner) introduced him to the world of jazz. Benny went on to study with pianist Brad Mehldau, to perform at the Monterey and the Montreux jazz festivals, and to play with artists such as the late Billy Higgins, Marc Ribot, Brad Shepik, the and Pheeroan akLaff and is now residing in NYC where is working with his internationally touring trio and as a sideman. Benny Lackner has recently shared bills with such Downtown NYC artists as Elvis Costello, the Jazz Passengers, Sex Mob, Vijay Iyer, Ralph Alessi, Kenny Wollesson,Jonathon Haffner and many others.
Jerôme Regard studied at the Conservatoire National Lyon as well as at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique Paris bei Jean-François Jenny Clark. He has performed at numerousJazz-Festivals worldwide. Musicians he has worked with include Jan Garbarek, Flavio Boltro, Rosario Guilliani, Louis Winsberg, Michel Perez, André Ceccarelli, Sylvain Beuf, Sylvain Luc, Manu Codjia, Daniel Mille, Eric Legnini, Médéric Collignon, Alfio Origlio, Alex Tassel, Sylvain Gontard, Laurent Robin, Emil Spanyi, Nicolas Folmer, Pierre Drevet, Eric Prost, Marcia Maria, Stéphane Huchard, Jean Pierre Como, Eric Echampard, Rick Margitza, Le Micromégas, David Patrois, Eric Seva, Thierry Heliez, Zool Flecher, Laurent Cugny, Pierre Alain Goualch, Benjamin Henocq, Stéphane Chausse, Laurent De Wilde, Michel Legrand, Denis Leloup, Manuel Rocheman, Olivier Ker Ourio…Jerome lives and teaches in Lyon, France.
Matthieu Chazarenc was born in 1977 in the south-west part of France. He took his first drums lessons when he was 6. From 1990 to 1995, he studied classical percussions at the Conservatoire de Musique de Pau. In 1996, he attended the Centre Musical et Creatif de Nancy where he studied for a year and specialized in Jazz drums with Franck Aghulon, André Charlier. He finished first of his class. During these years he took part in numerous master-classes, among which the Jazz in Marciac Festival (Wynton Marsalis, Oscar Peterson). He then flew to New York where he took private lessons (John Riley, Kenny Washington). There, he also took classes regularly at the Drummers Collectives. In 1998, he joined the Conservatoire National de Toulouse where he graduated. While studying, he never stopped playing the drums with various bands (dancing orchestra, big-bands, marching bands, batuccada, funk, rock.)
In September 2000, he entered the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris practising drums under the direction of Daniel Humair. He graduated from the Conservatoire in 2003 and passed with highest honors. Evolving now in Paris, he performed in many festivals and jazz clubs in Paris but also in Europe.
In 2005, Matthieu went regularly to New York (private lessons with Jeff Ballard, Ari Hoenig).
During his career, Matthieu played with David Linx, Laika Fatien, Marcia Maria, Sheila Jordan, Youn Sun Nah, Sarah Lazarus, Paolo Fresu, Flavio Boltro, Nicolas Folmer, Eric Lelann, Manuel Rocheman, Robert Glasper, Giovanni Mirabassi, Antonio Farao, Pierre de Bethman, Harmen Fraanje, Bernard Maury, Frank Woeste, Jeff Gardner, Alain Jean Marie, Pierre-Alain Goualch, Benjamin Moussay, Mark Turner, Rosario Giuliani, Pierrick Pedron, Olivier Thémime, François Theberge, Stéphane Guillaume, Riccardo del Fra, Dominique Di Piazza, Frédéric Monino, Hein Van de Geyn, Daniel Yvinek, Michel Benita, Nelson Veras, Louis Winsberg, Jean Marie Ecay, Jérome Barde, Manu Codjia, Frédéric Favarel, Misha Fitzgerald, Glenn Ferris, Denis Leloup, Olivier Ker Ourio, Magic Malik.
