Musicians Pay Tribute to Casey Benjamin

Casey Benjamin, the Queens, New York-born musician known for his massive talents on alto saxophone and vocoder, passed away on March 30 at the young age of 45.

Since the news of his transition went public yesterday, many friends and colleagues from the jazz world and beyond have taken to social media to express their sorrow over the loss of this incredible player who has worked with Kendrick Lamar, Betty Carter, Nas, Q-Tip, Busta Rhymes, Wyclef Jean, Mary J. Blige, John Legend, Beyoncé and so many more. 

“Casey was one of the most gifted and talented beings ever,” pianist Robert Glasper, his longtime friend and bandmate in the Robert Glasper Experiment, told Nate Chinen for Philadelphia’s WRTI. “He was the epitome of what it means to be unique and one of a kind. The true meaning of a genius at his craft. There is no Robert Glasper Experiment without him. The world lost a giant and I lost a brother. I’m forever honored to have shared the stage and my life with him.”

Here’s just a sample of the eulogies that came across the wire in the hours following the news of this terrible loss for modern music, including touching passages from Robert Glasper Experiment bandmate Derrick Hodge, mentor Melvin Gibbs of Harriet Tubman, Living Colour guitarist Vernon Reid and rapper Lupe Fiasco along with additional prominent names in the jazz community.

 

Jaleel Shaw: My ALTO brother! It’s so hard to say how much this hurts right now, but I’m THANKFUL for you. It was amazing watching you grow into such an incredible, super talented, hard-working, innovative musician. I’ll miss you. You were truly ONE of ONE. Rest easy Casey Benjamin🕊️

 

VIDEO: Inside The Robert Glasper Experiment Band: Casey Benjamin 

Vernon Reid: The passing of Casey Benjamin is a brutal & terrible shock. He was a longtime MD to @projectlogic. My sincerest condolences go out to my YoHimBe Brother on this day of revelation. I’m in a weird place with it. Too young! Too soon!. So much left to give! Rest. In. Power, CB!🌹😞

 

Derrick Hodge: Tonight, I honor a brother. A true brother and friend.  Casey Benjamin, thank you for inspiring me, for being a light in my life, and for your unbelievable influence on the music world. I will carry your smile with me, brother. And we will collectively honor and carry your legacy with us.  

Can’t get my words together at this moment but will echo a few of my last words to you: I’m thankful for you and love you always! Rest well, King.

 

Lakecia Benjamin: Mindblowing news. Casey came to my middle school and encouraged me to pursue a career in music. Told me to follow my dreams and never forget I have the drive to play music. He was the first musician that greeted me with joy and told me keep practicing. Everyone thinks you my little sister so you have to blow them away. Rest in power to New York’s own Mr Benjamin.

 

Melvin Gibbs: I’d booked a gig at Tonic for a project I’d recently started that combined African religious music with modern grooves. The band’s lineup was open ended because I was still settling on the band’s personnel. I’d met this brother from Benin who was a singer, dancer, and percussionist who grew up in the Vodun tradition and knew the songs. I figured he’d be the perfect front-person for the group. 

That night I’d decided to do a small group, either a trio or a quartet with a second percussionist, I can’t remember which at this point. The band had set up on stage, minus the singer, and I was waiting by the door of the club for him to show up when David Byrne comes walking in. He’d picked that night to come check out what I was doing. So it wasn’t just a gig anymore. It was also a low-key showcase for Luaka Bop records. 

 

Melvin Gibbs’ Elevated Entity feat Casey Benjamin live at the Weeksville Heritage Center 4/17/2010 

So I waited even more impatiently for the singer from Benin to show up. He never did. He ghosted me. At ten minutes before showtime I huddled up with my drummer back then – Terreon Gully – to discuss what we were going to do to salvage the show. He suggested we call a friend of his – a high school student – who he was said was really great on both sax and keyboards. By then David had comfortably settled in. Terreon made the call and told me his friend was on the way. In the meantime, I assembled the one or two other people I had with me and hit the stage.

The first set was the worst solo set I’ve done in New York City. It just didn’t work. Whatever possibility that had existed for me to make a Luaka Bop record left the building when David walked out at the end of it. 

About 10 minutes after he left a young man carrying an alto saxophone walked into the club. I figured it was the friend Terreon had called. I walked up to him and introduced myself.

The young man was Casey Benjamin. He was then one of Bob Stewart’s students at La Guardia High School aka Music And Art. 

That second set was the diametric opposite of the first. It probably still wouldn’t’ve convinced an A&R type to give me a record deal, but it was extremely satisfying. Casey’s musicianship was undeniable. He became one of my first call people that night.

Through me, he soon connected with a young music maker I’d brought into the scene, DJ Logic. They connected, and he became an integral part of Project Logic. Casey was largely responsible for the sound of The Anomaly, DJ Logic’s second album. He wrote a lot of the material, and played sax and keys on it. 

After that he became one of the go-to musicians for NY rappers, becoming a part of both Q-Tip’s and Mos Def’s groups. Before his first trip to Europe with Q-Tip, I warned him about the mud in Glastonbury. We laughed about it afterwards. 

After that he joined Robert Glasper’s Experiment, where he shined. I went to see him them at the Blue Note. Backstage afterwards, he graciously told Robert I was one of his mentors. 

I know he was happy to be working on the music for Q-Tip’s Broadway show. 

I was looking forward to finally hearing him do his own thing.

But, now he’s in the band with Miles and Michael Jackson.

RIP Casey Benjamin. I will miss you.

 

AUDIO: Lupe Fiasco feat. Casey Benjamin “Strange Fruition”

 

Lupe Fiasco: Rest In Peace Casey Benjamin 

I can’t even begin to express the deep gratitude and respect. 

My deepest condolences to the family and friends. 

🌪️

 

Michael Leonhart: RIP #caseybenjamin 💔💔💔This is another loss that’s hard to wrap my head around. Casey was such a gorgeous and giving human being not to mention brilliant creative spirit🔥He was (and IS) loved by so many in the music world! Amazing to see how the next generation reveres and looks up to him. His spirit will live on❤️.                    

 

Jeremy Pelt: There’s an old saying that “oldheads” used to dismiss youngheads with: “He don’t know what he don’t know yet”. 

We live, blissfully, in a state of entitlement and guarantee for many years until you suddenly begin to gain wisdom.

One of the more profound things that one starts to understand, sometimes vis-a-vis with others is how precious life is. At best, it’s a privilege to realize this. At its worst, it’s absolutely gutting to be reminded.

I join the whole music scene in  bereavement.

RIP Casey Benjamin

 

 

Xtian aTunde Adjuah: Can’t wrap my head around it, just hurts. 

Rest in Power Big Bro. Just thought of all the things you handed down to us to lift us up. And the light n grace you always carried. I reflect on those hits from decades past with incredible joy when your sound comes flooding back💫 Casey Benjamin 👑KING👑 love n miss u Big Bro

 

Marcus Strickland: Consistently and genuinely an absolutely amazing human! 🕊️ 👑 🕊️ Last time I saw you was in FEB, bro!  This news stopped me dead in my tracks.  My heart goes out to your fam and our mutual friends.  This is mad mad rough. 🤦🏾‍♂️ One of my heroes as soon as I met you in ‘97.  An unfathomable loss to us. #CaseyBenjamin

 

Nate Smith: Casey was the star of *every* show — a cool, humble dude and one-of-a-kind musician. We became friends and played over the yrs when the stars aligned.

Soar, my brother. ❤️🕊️

 

Do yourself a favor tonight and search up Casey Benjamin on your favorite streaming platform and revel in the joyous and limitless spirit of the man we lost over the weekend.

I am truly blessed that I was able to see him perform live with Project Logic many years ago. I wish I saw him more in these last decade or so, but I thought I had more time. We all did. He was far too young and had more work to do.

No cause of death has been confirmed at press time.

 

VIDEO: Casey Benjamin at Clement’s Place