Benny Benack III – The Magic of Manhattan
Emmy-nominated trumpeter and vocalist Benny Benack III brings his newest program The Magic of Manhattan to Kuumbwa, showcasing the musical essence of New York City from the Café Carlyle to 52nd Street and Greenwich Village. This jazz-steeped journey explores the songs and artists that have defined the heartbeat of the Big Apple, from Broadway standards to the jazz clubs of midtown.
By age 31, Benack has established himself as a rare dual talent: a fiery trumpet player with stirring command of post-bop vernacular in the vein of Kenny Dorham and Freddie Hubbard, paired with a sly, mature vocal delivery in the post-Sinatra tradition. DownBeat magazine voted him #1 Rising Star Male Jazz Vocalist and #8 Rising Star Trumpeter in 2024, recognizing both his bracing virtuosity and naturally expressive storytelling.
Benack comes from an illustrious Pittsburgh musical family spanning three generations, and his stage presence is as compelling as his musicianship. Reviews describe watching him play trumpet as "joyful" — with lightning-speed fingering, emotional facial expressions, and visible musical journeys that make audiences smile. His performances blend technical mastery with "thrilling sense of showmanship" and infectious charisma that can turn jazz clubs into rock concert-like environments with audiences "screaming and hootin' and hollerin'."
The show features material that captures New York's Golden Age and beyond — from Billy Joel's "New York State of Mind" to Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York," and from the bright lights of Broadway to the intimate jazz venues that made the city a musical mecca. Benack's three acclaimed albums include 2023's Third Time's the Charm, and he's gained recognition through viral collaborations with Postmodern Jukebox and the GRAMMY-winning 8-Bit Big Band, plus his weekly residency at Smalls jazz club.
The Magic of Manhattan promises an evening that celebrates both the musical legacy of New York City and the artistry of one of jazz's most dynamic young voices.