Marco Benevento

Biography

Marco Benevento, born on July 22, 1977, in Livingston, New Jersey, began playing piano at age seven and developed an early interest in synthesizers and home recording during his teens. He attended Ramapo High School, graduating in 1995, and later Berklee College of Music, from which he graduated in 1999, immersing himself in jazz studies under mentors like Joanne Brackeen, Kenny Werner, John Medeski, and Brad Mehldau. After moving to New York City, he became a fixture in the experimental jazz and rock scene, starting with the Jazz Farmers (1999-2001) and forming the instrumental duo Benevento/Russo with drummer Joe Russo in 2001, known for its use of Hammond organ, Wurlitzer piano, circuit-bent toys, and loops.[1][2][3][5]

Benevento launched his solo career in 2006, releasing his debut album Invisible Baby in 2008, nominated for an Independent Music Award, followed by Me Not Me (2009), Between the Needles and Nightfall (2010), Tigerface (2012), and others under his Royal Potato Family label, which he co-founded in 2009. His style blends jazz roots with jam band, indie rock, and experimental elements, featuring amplified acoustic piano with effects pedals, synthesizers, and drum machines. He has performed at major venues and festivals like Carnegie Hall, Newport Jazz Festival, SXSW, Bonnaroo, and Lollapalooza, often with rotating trios including bassists Dave Dreiwitz (2012-2016), Karina Rykman (2016-present), and drummers Andrew Borger and others. Benevento also founded Fred Short studio in Upstate New York and has been part of Joe Russo's Almost Dead.[1][4][5][7]

His legacy endures through a devoted fanbase in jam band and experimental circles, with recent work like the 2020 self-titled album Benevento showcasing psych-funk grooves recorded in his home studio near the Catskills. Collaborations with Phish's Mike Gordon and Trey Anastasio in GRAB, Garage A Trois, and Bustle in Your Hedgerow highlight his genre-blurring influence, while his high-energy live shows and production role solidify his status in New York's underground scene.[2][4][6]

Fun Facts

• Benevento met Joe Russo outside a Medeski, Martin & Wood show at Tonic in New York City in 2001, sparking the formation of the Benevento/Russo Duo after hustling for gigs in the city.[2][3]
• He amplifies his acoustic piano using pickups and effects pedals like distortion and delay, incorporating circuit-bent toys, synthesizers, and drum machines into his experimental sound.[1][5]
• After a promising meeting with Verve Records following a Carnegie Hall opener for Jamie Cullum, the label went silent, prompting him to co-found Royal Potato Family in 2009.[5]
• Benevento once earned $500 each from a two-man duo show at Tobacco Road in Manhattan, a breakthrough moment that led to festival bookings like High Sierra.[3]

Associated Acts

• Jazz Farmers
• Benevento/Russo Duo
• Bustle in Your Hedgerow
• Garage a Trois
• The Coalition of the Willing
• Marco Benevento Trio

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Joanne Brackeen - jazz piano teacher at Berklee (studies during college) [late 1990s]
• Kenny Werner - jazz piano mentor (studies and performances) [late 1990s]
• John Medeski - keyboardist influence and collaborator (New York scene involvement) [1999-present]
• Brad Mehldau - jazz piano studies and performances (mentorship) [late 1990s]

Key Collaborators

• Joe Russo - drummer and co-founder of Benevento/Russo Duo and Joe Russo's Almost Dead (Benevento/Russo Duo albums (2001-present), live performances) [2001-present]
• Dave Dreiwitz - bassist in Marco Benevento trio (tours and recordings) [2012-2016]
• Karina Rykman - bassist in current trio (live shows and recent albums) [2016-present]
• Trey Anastasio - Phish guitarist in GRAB and 2006 summer tour quartet (GRAB band, summer tour) [2006]
• Mike Gordon - Phish bassist in GRAB (GRAB band) [various]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #american, #experimental, #jazz