The untimely death of Casey Benjamin, a renowned saxophonist and original member of the critically acclaimed Robert Glasper Experiment, at the age of 46, shocked the music industry. Vernon Reid of Living Colour confirmed the tragic news, which remained unknown due to the lack of a cause of death. Reid took to Twitter to express his shock and sorrow, calling Benjamin’s passing a “brutal & terrible shock.” Reid paid moving tribute to his late colleague, Benjamin, expressing his deepest condolences and praising his tremendous talent and the influence he had on the music industry.
Similar sentiments were expressed by the Sudanese-American experimentalist Sinkane, who praised Benjamin as “one of the greatest musicians of our time” and conveyed his eternal love and admiration for his late friend.
South Jamaica, a thriving neighborhood in Queens, New York, was Casey Benjamin’s home from the time he was born in 1978. He began a long and fruitful relationship with the saxophone when he was just eight years old, driven by an innate love of music. Harlem School of the Arts, New York’s Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music and Art, and The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music were among the esteemed schools he attended in pursuit of formal training, thanks to his commitment and talent.
Aside from his impressive list of collaborators, Benjamin is widely recognized as a revered figure in the music industry for his long tenure as musical director for acid-jazz pioneer DJ Logic.
While attending The New School, Benjamin met Robert Glasper, who would go on to form a groundbreaking partnership that would change the face of music forever. Benjamin was a co-founder of the revolutionary Robert Glasper Experiment with Glasper, bassist Derrick Hodge, and drummer Chris “Daddy” Dave.
On Glasper’s 2009 album “Double-Booked,” they made their debut, kicking off an incredible journey that would redefine the boundaries of contemporary jazz and R&B fusion. After receiving critical and popular praise for their 2012 album “Black Radio,” The Experiment were presented with the esteemed Grammy for Best R&B Album the following year. Their 2015 Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Performance went to the stellar “Jesus Children of America” from their follow-up album, “Black Radio 2,” which further cemented their fame.
Casey Benjamin was a visionary artist and pioneer; his unmatched talent, passion, and devotion to his art will motivate generations to follow in his footsteps, even as the music industry grieves his passing. His music will remain a testament to his incredible talent and unwavering spirit, even though his time here on earth was tragically cut short. As a multi-talented artist, Benjamin collaborated with many famous musicians from different genres, in addition to his groundbreaking work with the Robert Glasper Experiment.
Benjamin was a musical genius who collaborated with everyone from Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump on tour to Living Colour’s Vernon Reid. The fact that he has worked with legendary artists like Beyoncé, John Legend, Kanye West, Mary J. Blige, and Kendrick Lamar speaks volumes about his talent and versatility.
