Grammy-nominated CD
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| Recording by Cal State L.A. Faculty Members Los Angeles, CA  ÂAmericaÂs Millennium Tribute to Adolphe Sax, Volume 5ÂÂfeaturing a live recording of David AmramÂs Ode to Lord Buckley by Cal State L.A.Âs professor of music Jeff Benedict on saxophoneÂreceived a first-round nomination for a Grammy award in the best classical album category. Produced for Arizona University Recordings, the composition was performed with piano accompaniment by Cal State L.A.Âs music faculty member Twyla Meyer. Pasadena resident Jeff Benedict, founding member of the Orion Saxophone Quartet, holds a B.M. and an M.A. from the Lamont School of Music and a D.M.A. from the University of Texas at Austin, where he was a student of Harvey Pittel. He has been the winner of four Âdeebee awards from Downbeat magazine, one each for Classical Performance and Jazz Composition, and two for Jazz Performance. He is in demand as a classical soloist, and has premiered new works for the saxophone including the world premiere of Peter TerryÂs Into Light for saxophone, chamber orchestra and computer-generated tape, and the mid-west premiere of Ode to Lord Buckley for saxophone and orchestra. As a member of the ensemble, he has performed with the Aspen Festival Orchestra, the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra and with the Los Angeles Philharmonic New Music Group. His credits as a jazz performer include appearances with Toshiko Akiyoshi, Randy Brecker, Nick Brignola, Eddie Daniels, Carl Fontana, Curtis Fuller, Slide Hampton, Jimmy Heath, Hubert Laws, Wynton Marsalis, Bob Mintzer, Claudio Roditi, Diane Schuur, Lew Soloff, Billy Taylor, Mel Torme, Bill Watrous, Mark Whitfield and Joe Williams. He has been on the faculty at Cal State L.A. since 1989, where he is currently the saxophone instructor and director of jazz studies. He has released two jazz albums on the Resurgent Music record label: ÂCastle Creek Shuffle and ÂStandard Fare.Â
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