BIOGRAPHY
Presenting singularly expressive jazz, embellished with slight electronic augmentation and drum programming, The Benny Lackner Trio is anything but typical. Functioning as a collective, with each member interjecting equally toward the construction of their material, the trio’s music is unfailingly intricate and multifaceted. While their unique compositions and renditions of jazz standards are remarkably sophisticated and challenging, it is in their unconventional interpretation of contemporary pop hits—by such diverse artists as Prince, Bjork and Jimi Hendrix—that The Benny Lackner Trio reveals its virtuosity. Through abstraction these songs become new, untainted works of art, made complete through a marriage of musical traditions, which shake the dust from jazz and bring it into the light, revitalized and emancipated.
The Benny Lackner Trio currently featuring Jerôme Regard and Matthieu Chazarenc was founded in New York City in 2002. Their sound is a direct result of the influence of the trios of Keith Jarrett, Ahmad Jamal, Brad Mehldau, Bill Evans. Comparisons have been drawn to the BadPlus, Jason Moran and E.S.T. as well. The first album "Not the Same" released to critical acclaim in 2004 "Where the Bad- Plus goes for the jugular on it's recordings, the Lacknerites keep it understated, a rarity for any jazz album." - JazzTimes ...The trio followed up with, "Sign of the Times" in 2006, "Sign of the Times proves itself a wonderfully realized work of art, every tune a highlight, they give the piano trio a much-needed facelift." - All About Jazz. In 2006 the trio took the next step in its' evolution, once again taking to the studio to self-produce its third and most original album yet, "Pilgrim". 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, Blonde Redhead, Feist, as well as insightful arrangements of the music of Mingus, Monk, and Gershwin. Their sonic embellishments on the sound of the acoustic piano trio gives the overall sound a subtle yet modern, ambient feel.
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.
Born in Berlin, Benny Lackner, moved to California at the age of 13. He received his BFA from the California Institute of the Arts under the direction of Charlie Haden and David Roitstein. From 1997 - 1998 he studied privately with his mentor, pianist Brad Mehldau. He has performed at numerous jazz festivals including the North Sea Jazz Festival, Montreux and Monterey. He has worked with artists such as the late Billy Higgins, Marc Ribot, Brad Shepik, Pheeroan akLaff and is now residing in NYC and Berlin where is working with his internationally touring trio and as a sideman and Composer.
Jerôme Regard (bass) studied at the Conservatoire National Lyon as well as at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique Paris with Jean-François Jenny Clark. He has performed at numerous Jazz-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 (drums) was born in 1977 in the south-west part of France. Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris practising drums under the direction of Daniel Humair. He has also studied privately with Jeff Ballard, Ari Hoenig, Kenny Washington and John Riley. 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...Matthieu lives in Paris, France.
