Dr. Jeff Benatar is a Jazz Pianist with a passion for
teaching. He is Assistant Professor of Music, Director of Jazz Studies and Coordinator
of Music Management, at Florida Southern College. Benatar directs the FSC Jazz Ensemble (big
band) and both small ensembles, leads the Jazz Piano Studio, and teaches Jazz
Studies and Music Management courses. Benatar has previously taught at Central
State University (Wilberforce, Ohio), The Eastman School of Music, The
University of Rochester (New York), Rutgers-Newark (The State University of New
Jersey), and the Eastman Community Music School.
One of Benatar’s
compositions, “Hank and Joe” for Jazz Septet, was called “Superb” and “Intense”
by JazzTimes Magazine (November
2016). Benatar has performed with Clay Jenkins, Harold
Danko, Adam Larson, Pat LaBarbera, Bob Sneider, John Sneider, Melba Joyce, Andy
Watson, Vaughn Weister's Famous Jazz Orchestra, The Ohio State University
Faculty Combo, and the Dayton Jazz and Glenn Miller
Orchestras. Benatar’s most recent faculty recital was featured on Out and About Art on Polk Government
Television https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_5uugSEZ2Q. He was the Jazz Director for two Florida College Systems
Activities Association Winter Music Symposia, a Jazz Piano Artist-in-Residence
at a Miami Valley Jazz Camp, an improvisation instructor at FSC String Camp,
and Jazz Director at FSC Band Camp. He is versatile musician, composer,
arranger, and improviser who has experience in Jazz, Commercial Music, Wind
Ensemble, Studio Orchestra, and Choir.
Benatar’s
articles have been published in the journals Jazz Education in Research and Practice and Florida Music Director. Benatar has presented and/or performed at
Jazz Education Network and Florida Music Education Association conferences, as
well as at the Leeds International Jazz Education conference and the Westfield
Center for Historical Keyboard Studies at Cornell University. He has given
masterclasses, presentations, and/or recitals at Florida State University,
University of Massachusetts Amherst, Syracuse University, Washington State
University, University of Nevada Las Vegas, and Wilfred Laurier
University.
