Joseph Rupert Benjamin (November 4, 1919 – January 26, 1974) was an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a majo ...

bassist. Born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Benjamin played with many jazz musicians in a variety of idioms. Early in his career he played in the

big band A big band or jazz orchestra is a type of musical ensemble of jazz music that usually consists of ten or more musicians with four sections: saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and a rhythm section. Big bands originated during the early 1910s ...

s of

Artie Shaw Artie Shaw (born Arthur Jacob Arshawsky; May 23, 1910 – December 30, 2004) was an American clarinetist, composer, bandleader, actor and author of both fiction and non-fiction. Widely regarded as "one of jazz's finest clarinetists", Shaw led ...

Fletcher Henderson James Fletcher Hamilton Henderson (December 18, 1897 – December 29, 1952) was an American pianist, bandleader, arranger and composer, important in the development of big band jazz and swing music. He was one of the most prolific black mus ...

Sy Oliver Melvin James "Sy" Oliver (December 17, 1910 – May 28, 1988) was an American jazz arranger, trumpeter, composer, singer and bandleader. Life Sy Oliver was born in Battle Creek, Michigan, United States. His mother was a piano teacher, and his ...

, and

Duke Ellington Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous jazz orchestra from 1923 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Ellington was ba ...

. Later credits include work with

Roland Kirk Roland (; frk, *Hrōþiland; lat-med, Hruodlandus or ''Rotholandus''; it, Orlando or ''Rolando''; died 15 August 778) was a Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who became one of the principal figures in the literary cycle known as the ...

, Hank Garland,

Dave Brubeck David Warren Brubeck (; December 6, 1920 – December 5, 2012) was an American jazz pianist and composer. Often regarded as a foremost exponent of cool jazz, Brubeck's work is characterized by unusual time signatures and superimposing contrasti ...

Marian McPartland Margaret Marian McPartland OBE ( Turner;Hasson, Claire"Marian McPartland: Jazz Pianist: An Overview of a Career" PhD Thesis. Retrieved 12 August 2008. 20 March 1918 – 20 August 2013), was an English–American jazz pianist, composer, and writ ...

, Louis Armstrong (in his later years),

Mal Waldron Malcolm Earl "Mal" Waldron (August 16, 1925 – December 2, 2002) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger. He started playing professionally in New York in 1950, after graduating from college. In the following dozen years or so Wa ...

Jo Jones Jonathan David Samuel Jones (October 7, 1911 – September 3, 1985) was an American jazz drummer. A band leader and pioneer in jazz percussion, Jones anchored the Count Basie Orchestra rhythm section from 1934 to 1948. He was sometimes k ...

Gary Burton Gary Burton (born January 23, 1943) is an American jazz vibraphonist, composer, and educator. Burton developed a pianistic style of four-mallet technique as an alternative to the prevailing two-mallet technique. This approach caused him to be h ...

, Sarah Vaughan, Roy Haynes,

Art Taylor Arthur S. Taylor Jr. (April 6, 1929 – February 6, 1995) was an American jazz drummer, who "helped define the sound of modern jazz drumming".Watrous, Peter (February 7, 1995)"Art Taylor, 65, Jazz Drummer Who Inspired Young Musicians" ''The Ne ...

, and

Brother Jack McDuff Eugene McDuff (September 17, 1926 – January 23, 2001), known professionally as "Brother" Jack McDuff or "Captain" Jack McDuff, was an American jazz organist and organ trio bandleader who was most prominent during the hard bop and soul jazz era ...

. Benjamin never recorded as a leader.

Partial discography

As sideman

With

Bob Brookmeyer Robert Edward "Bob" Brookmeyer (December 19, 1929 – December 15, 2011) was an American jazz valve trombonist, pianist, arranger, and composer. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Brookmeyer first gained widespread public attention as a member of ...

*''

Traditionalism Revisited ''Traditionalism Revisited'' is an album by jazz trombonist and pianist Bob Brookmeyer featuring popular music of the 1920s and 1930s recorded in 1957 for the World Pacific label. Reception The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow stated "While these ...

'' (World Pacific, 1957) With

Kenny Burrell Kenneth Earl Burrell (born July 31, 1931) is an American jazz guitarist known for his work on numerous top jazz labels: Prestige, Blue Note, Verve, CTI, Muse, and Concord. His collaborations with Jimmy Smith were notable, and produced the 1965 ...

*'' Weaver of Dreams'' (Columbia, 1960–61) *'' Guitar Forms'' (Verve, 1964–65) With

*'' Jazz Impressions of Eurasia'' (Columbia, 1958) ;With

Harry Edison Harry "Sweets" Edison (October 10, 1915 – July 27, 1999) was an American jazz trumpeter and a member of the Count Basie Orchestra. His most important contribution was as a Hollywood studio musician, whose muted trumpet can be heard backi ...

*'' The Swinger'' (Verve, 1958) *'' Mr. Swing'' (Verve, 1958 960 *'' Harry Edison Swings Buck Clayton'' (Verve, 1958) with

Buck Clayton Wilbur Dorsey "Buck" Clayton (November 12, 1911 – December 8, 1991) was an American jazz trumpeter who was a member of Count Basie's orchestra. His principal influence was Louis Armstrong, first hearing the record "Confessin' That I Love You" ...

With

*'' All Star Road Band'' (Doctor Jazz, 1957 983 With Dizzy Gillespie *'' The Great Blue Star Sessions 1952-1953'' (EmArcy, 1952-53

004 004, 0O4, O04, OO4 may refer to: * 004, fictional British 00 Agent * 0O4, Corning Municipal Airport (California) * O04, the Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation * Abdul Haq Wasiq, Guantanamo detainee 004 * Junkers Jumo 004 turbojet engine * Lauda ...

With Barry Harris *''

Preminado ''Preminado'' is an album by pianist Barry Harris recorded in late 1960 and early 1961 and released on the Riverside label.

'' (Riverside, 1961) With Roy Haynes *'' Jazz Abroad'' (Emarcy, 1955) ;With

Johnny Hodges Cornelius "Johnny" Hodges (July 25, 1907 – May 11, 1970) was an American alto saxophonist, best known for solo work with Duke Ellington's big band. He played lead alto in the saxophone section for many years. Hodges was also featured on sopran ...

*'' Triple Play'' (RCA Victor, 1967) ;With Budd Johnson *'' Blues a la Mode'' (Felsted, 1958) *'' Budd Johnson and the Four Brass Giants'' (Riverside, 1960) With

*''

Kirk's Work ''Kirk's Work'' (also reissued as ''Funk Underneath'') is an album by Roland Kirk with Jack McDuff. Prestige Records released the album in 1961, with Original Jazz Classics and Concord Music Group issuing subsequent re-releases. Rudy Van Gelder ...

'' (Prestige, 1961) With

Gary McFarland Gary Robert McFarland (October 23, 1933 – November 3, 1971) was an American composer, arranger, vibraphonist and vocalist. He recorded for the jazz imprints Verve and Impulse! Records during the 1960s. '' Down Beat magazine'' said he made "on ...

*'' The Jazz Version of "How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying"'' (Verve, 1962) With

Carmen McRae Carmen Mercedes McRae (April 8, 1920 – November 10, 1994) was an American jazz singer. She is considered one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th century and is remembered for her behind-the-beat phrasing and ironic interpre ...

*'' Book of Ballads'' (Kapp, 1958) With

Gerry Mulligan Gerald Joseph Mulligan (April 6, 1927 – January 20, 1996), also known as Jeru, was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, composer and arranger. Though primarily known as one of the leading jazz baritone saxophonists—playing the instrum ...

*'' The Teddy Wilson Trio & Gerry Mulligan Quartet with Bob Brookmeyer at Newport'' (Verve, 1957) *''

Blues in Time ''Gerry Mulligan - Paul Desmond Quartet'' (later retitled ''Blues in Time'') is a jazz album by Paul Desmond and Gerry Mulligan released in 1957 on the Verve label.

'' (Verve, 1957) with

Paul Desmond Paul Desmond (born Paul Emil Breitenfeld; November 25, 1924 – May 30, 1977) was an American jazz alto saxophonist and composer, best known for his work with the Dave Brubeck Quartet and for composing that group's biggest hit, " Take Five". He ...

*''

Two of a Mind ''Two of a Mind'' is an album recorded by American jazz saxophonists Paul Desmond and Gerry Mulligan featuring performances recorded in 1962 which were released on the RCA Victor label.

'' (RCA Victor, 1962) with

With

Jerome Richardson Jerome Richardson (November 15, 1920 – June 23, 2000) was an American jazz musician, tenor saxophonist, and flute player, who also played soprano sax, alto sax, baritone sax, clarinet, bass clarinet, alto flute and piccolo. He played with Ch ...

*''

Midnight Oil Midnight Oil (known informally as "The Oils") are an Australian rock band composed of Peter Garrett (vocals, harmonica), Rob Hirst (drums), Jim Moginie (guitar, keyboard) and Martin Rotsey (guitar). The group was formed in Sydney in 1972 by H ...

'' (New Jazz, 1959) With Al Sears *'' Things Ain't What They Used to Be'' (Swingville, 1961) as part of the Prestige Swing Festival With

Joya Sherrill Joya Sherrill (August 20, 1924 – June 28, 2010) was an American jazz vocalist and children's television show host. Sherrill was born in Bayonne, New Jersey on August 20, 1924. Her first ambition was to become a writer: she was the editor of he ...

*'' Joya Sherrill Sings Duke'' (20th Century Fox, 1965) With

Rex Stewart Rex William Stewart Jr. (February 22, 1907 – September 7, 1967) was an American jazz cornetist who was a member of the Duke Ellington orchestra. Career As a boy he studied piano and violin; most of his career was spent on cornet. Stewart drop ...

*'' Rendezvous with Rex'' (Felsted, 1958) With

Sonny Stitt Edward Hammond Boatner Jr. (February 2, 1924 – July 22, 1982), known professionally as Sonny Stitt, was an American jazz saxophonist of the bebop/ hard bop idiom. Known for his warm tone, he was one of the best-documented saxophonists of hi ...

*'' Sonny Stitt & the Top Brass'' (Atlantic, 1962) With

Buddy Tate George Holmes "Buddy" Tate (February 22, 1913 – February 10, 2001) was an American jazz saxophonist and clarinetist. Biography Tate was born in Sherman, Texas, United States, and first played the alto saxophone. According to the website All ...

*''

Swinging Like Tate ''Swinging Like Tate'' is an album by saxophonist Buddy Tate which was recorded in 1958 and released on the Felsted label.Clark Terry Clark Virgil Terry Jr. (December 14, 1920 – February 21, 2015) was an American swing and bebop trumpeter, a pioneer of the flugelhorn in jazz, and a composer and educator. He played with Charlie Barnet (1947), Count Basie (1948–51), Duke ...

*'' Color Changes'' (Candid, 1960) *'' Everything's Mellow'' (Moodsville, 1961) With

The Three Playmates The Three Playmates were a female R&B trio from Newark, New Jersey who were active in the late 1950s. They recorded for the Savoy label, and had three singles released. One of them, the dance oriented "Sugah Wooga" became a hit for the trio in 19 ...

*''

'' -

with George Barrow,

, Budd Johnson,

Sam Price Samuel Blythe Price (October 6, 1908 – April 14, 1992) was an American jazz, boogie-woogie and jump blues pianist and bandleader. Price's playing is dark, mellow, and relaxed rather than percussive, and he was a specialist at creating the ...

, Joe Benjamin, Bobby Donaldson,

Ernie Wilkins Ernest Brooks Wilkins Jr. (July 20, 1922 – June 5, 1999) was an American jazz saxophonist, conductor and arranger who spent several years with Count Basie. He also wrote for Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, and Dizzy Gillespie. He was musical dire ...

(arranger) (Savoy Records, 1957)Savoy Records discography
Jazzdisco.org. Retrieved 24 June 2013. With Sarah Vaughan *'' Sarah Vaughan with Clifford Brown'' (EmArcy, 1954) *'' In the Land of Hi-Fi'' (EmArcy, 1955) *''

Swingin' Easy ''Swingin' Easy'' is a 1957 studio album by the American jazz singer Sarah Vaughan. On the second chorus of " All of Me" Vaughan bops in "a quite extraordinary fashion, covering more than two octaves" (from the sleeve notes). " Pennies from Heav ...

'' (EmArcy, 1957) With

*'' The Quest'' (New Jazz, 1961) With Kai Winding *'' Dance to the City Beat'' (Columbia, 1959)

References

Joe Benjamin Joseph Rupert Benjamin (November 4, 1919 – January 26, 1974) was an American jazz bassist. Born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Benjamin played with many jazz musicians in a variety of idioms. Early in his career he played in the big bands of Art ...

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the dat ...

1919 births 1974 deaths American jazz double-bassists Male double-bassists Musicians from New Jersey 20th-century American musicians 20th-century double-bassists 20th-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians {{double-bassist-stub