marcus benoit: News

I am in the midst of starting a new band that will have 2 female vocalists, sax/(male vocalist), piano(male vocalist), electric bass and drums.
This group will focus on early soul music (Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin to current artist like Norah Jones, Joss Stone...)
I am hoping to get this group up and performing within 2 - 4 months. Stay tuned!

The music for "Acoustic Trilogy Part 2" has been recorded and is now in the mixing stage. This segment features 4 origional pieces for Flugel Horn and acoustic piano.

Acoustic Trilogy Pt. 1 is currently being set up on CD Baby as a digital release. It is a collection of 5 songs that use an acoustic trio of piano, bass and drums with vocals. If you like lyrics that explore political, Spiritual and social conditions with an underlaying jazz foundation this should interest you. As always the musicianship is excellent. It should be for sale with in 6 weeks at the latest.

I am fishing a very special acoustic jazz trio CD and hope to have it on sale at CD baby by next fall 2009. The music and lyrics touches upon some introspection of our recent history in America and some Zen ideas. The title of this upcoming CD will be “Hope and Redemption”. More information as it develops.

All things end and give birth to new beginnings! I will be ending a long and fun filled tenure with Ken Briggs Nite Train Band as of March 1st, 2009. I am ready to plunge myself full time into jazz trio work and other original musical projects at this time. I can not emphasize enough how many good friends/musicians I met thru working with Ken Briggs and his lovely wife Marla over the years and I am grateful for the opportunity Ken provided on his bandstand to grow as a pianist and vocalist. I know whatever direction Ken decides upon next he will continue to storm thru the capital district and bring a wide smile to anyone who works with him!

When one has done enough gigs over the years questions arise...at least that has been my personal experience.
I believe in a moment of meditation it came to me why musicians play at all, (after getting over intial reasons, money, girls, 'look at me', better than working a real job etc...etc

WE DO IT TO HEAL OURSELVES AND OUR AUDIENCE !!!!

Nite Train has been a long time blues/rock band that I have been playing keyboards/sax/vocals with for several years now. This band continues to grow and be a group of good friends that like to have fun on the bandstand with a minimum of seriouness. After a couple of years with a horn section the group is once again parring down to a leaner group consisting of myself, Paul Quigley (electric guitar/vocals,Paul Borrello drums and my good friend at the helm, the one and only barely controlled force of nature' Kenny Briggs playing bass/vocalizing and promoting Nite Train wtih his usual 'shy' approach to life....NOT!!!!
Check out the link to Nite Train in this web site for the many gigs this group plays.

The trio Benoit/Savage/Borello will be adding Joe Monterello on Electric Bass to the line up. Joe is a great bass player who has roots in Back Bay Brew for those of you older than 25 might recall...as well as many other musical adventures. We are totally excited about having him on board. He will be on the next four Nine Maple dates (see the schedule page of this web site).
This group needs a new name...it is way too long....any ideas send them to me at www.marcusbenoit.com

The all acoustic trio (piano/acoustic bass/drums/vocals) has only one more recording session and it will be mixing time once again! I hope to have this CD packaged and released by next Fall. The music does include a few instrumental tunes as well some with lyrics that take a look at American politics, mediation/insomnia, and the life of a cat!?!?! As always updates will be posted on this web site as the project continues.

This new trio will be performing at Phenomenonz on Barret Street in Schenctady on August 15th from 6PM to 9PM. Phenomenonz is a shop that sells books and videos that include ALL forms of Spiritual inquiry. This establishment also hosts movie nights, Tai Chi Easy classes and other events of Spiritual interests.

Nite Train will be at the Plaza in Albany on August 6 from 12 noon to 2PM. If you are in the vicinity check out this ongoing saga led by the one and only Kenny Briggs...garunteed to work his ace off to entertain you !!!!!!

Soul Provider is an area band that performs a mix of classic songs by Stevie Wonder, Delbert Mc Clinton, Norah Jones and many others. The band features an excellent horn section and vocals. Marcus Benoit will be playing keyboards with this group on several dates TBA.

There will be an ‘official’ CD release party/performance at the Midtown Tap and Tea Room in Albany, New York on September 20 in support of Marcus Benoit’s recent release “Lets Get Away”. This restaurant has a real piano and offers excellent food and beverages. The atmosphere is intimate and very much like a piece of New York City set in a residential neighbor hood of Albany. There is parking available in the back of the restaurant and also street parking. Reservations can be made by calling area code 518-435-0202.

There is a great newspaper article about my musical journey toward playing keyboards and writing lyrics. I was lucky enough to have Brian Mcelhiney ( a reporter from the Schenectady New York based newspaper The Daily Gazette take an interest in my story and write an article about it. Check it out at:
http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2008/jun/25/0625_clubs/

I have finally finshed and have packaged a new CD entitled "Lets Get Away".
This is the end of a 2 year project that took many turns along the way but I do believe you will enjoy the songs and fantastic musicianship! It will be available at CD Baby within 2 weeks from today. A CD release performance is in the works for next early fall and possibly some radio air play. Stay tuned as they say!

As you know by now sometimes I disappear from the cyberworld landscape from time to time. Not being a computer fanatic... I find it hard to keep at it but I do hope you will check out some of the upcoming musical projects I am blessed to have going!
And I will try to be a little more consistent with news updates. I hope all are enjoying life and feel free to contact me regarding any of my musical pursuits.

Benoit/Savage/Borello is yet another trio setting in an electric vain that consists of John Savage on tenor saxophone and EWI., Paul Borrello on drums and Malletcat(an MIDI vibraphone) and myself on electric keyboards. Again there will be some recording of origional music this summer and hopefully a concert performance TBA. This goup will be appearing at Nine Maple on October 11, 2008.

The first three tracks of a new acoustic collection of songs has been completed. The group consist of the drumming of Gary Nowik a longtime comrade in arms and excellent musician, Mike Lawrence a great acoustic bass player who I have been lucky enough to cross paths with and myself on acoustic piano, Fender jazz piano and voclas. More on this project as it continues. Watch the schedule for this group performing at Nine Maple

I have been playing keyboards in Nite Train (a blues/rock band with a horn section) for a few years now. We are currently in the studio recording our first CD and should be releasing it this upcoming summer. Check out the link to the Nite Train Band site for information regarding upcoming performances. There will be approximately 2 - 4 gigs a month with that band from now till forever most likely!

Finally at the mixing stage of a new CD to be entitled "The Price of Life". The musical territory has expanded beyond blues and includes elements of jazz, fusion, old school R&B, rock and even some very outside atonal explorations! Lyrics will cover subjects that range from love to politics to the metaphysical! I am very excited about this project. It utilizes an array of excellent musicians that have given their all. With luck from the 'Gods of Recording" it should be completed by the end of June. Stay tuned for release information.