This week we speak to Benny Lackner of The Benny Lackner Trio who will be performing at the upcoming KK Jazz Festival.

Born in Berlin, Benny Lackner, moved to California at the age of 13. He received his BFA from the California Institute of the Arts under the direction of Charlie Haden and David Roitstein.

From 1997 - 1998 he studied privately with his mentor, pianist Brad Mehldau. He has performed at numerous jazz festivals including the North Sea Jazz Festival, Montreux and Monterey. He has worked with artists such as the late Billy Higgins, Marc Ribot, Brad Shepik, Pheeroan akLaff and is now residing in NYC and Berlin where is working with his internationally touring trio and as a sideman and Composer.

Currently featuring Jerôme Regard and Matthieu Chazarenc, the trio was founded in New York City in 2002. Concerts in 2009 include sharing the stage with John Scofield at the Traumzeit Jazz Festival, a packed night at the Sunset in Paris as part of the American Jazz Festival, as well a concert at the Augsburger Jazzsommer.

The Benny Lackner Trio has toured the U.S.A., Germany, France, Croatia, South Africa, Austria, Turkey, Spain, Greece, Portugal, Slovakia and the Czech Republic and has headlined at jazz clubs such as the Blue Note in NYC, Joe’s Pub in NYC, Smalls in NYC, Birdland in Vienna and the A-Trane in Berlin.

L&S: How would you best describe the musical stylings of The Benny Lackner Trio? Is there a particular Jazz definition that you identify with?
BL: I like the term, Nu Jazz, it fits our music well. We have a direct intent to follow the lineage of traditional piano trios as far back as the 1950's but want to make the music sound modern and adapt to what the listeners in the younger generations appreciate. The key ingredient to this band's sound is the careful selection of material. On record and in concert one will hear the band play everything from original pieces, to covers of popular songs by artists such as Bjork, Jimmy Hendrix, Prince, Nick Drake,Nena, Blonde Redhead, Feist, as well as arrangements of the music of Mingus,Monk, and Gershwin. Although I am currently migrating back more towards the acoustic piano, I do like to incorporate electronic effects in small amounts, just to provide a quiet, modern atmosphere as a back drop to our music.

L&S: Who are some of your earliest musical influences?
BL: The Guy that made me want to be a pianist is Oscar Peterson, then Red Garland and Wynton Kelly. After that, once I heard Keith Jarrett it was all over for me. I had to have my own piano trio. Then Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea, they blew my mind. Then of course Ahmad Jamal, Bill Evans and much later on, Brad Mehldau.

L&S: Most memorable performance?
BL: Performing at the Montreux Jazz Festival at age 17 was nice. But honestly, the best show ever for me was my last trio concert at a big Festival in Germany called Viersen Jazz Festival. Everything clicked that night and the audience was completely there with us. It was so easy to just be ourselves on stage.

L&S: If you could collaborate with any musician who would it be and why?
BL: Wayne Shorter, because he is not only my favorite composer but also the most inspiring saxophonist alive.

L&S: What are you looking forward to at the upcoming KK Jazz Fest?
BL: Meeting people from Kota Kinabalu and enjoying the natural beauty of Sabah. I am also interested in checking out the Fringe Festival there and seeing what the local musicians are up to...

The Benny Lackner Trio will be perfoming at the KK Jazz Fest on Saturday 18th June 2011.

For more information visit www.kkjazzfest.com