Benjamín Brea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Benjamín Brea
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Benjamín Arsenio Brea Constenla |
| Born | September 18, 1946 Galicia, Spain |
| Died | 23 April 2014 (aged 67) Caracas, Venezuela |
| Genres | Jazz, classical, folk, Latin, pop |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Saxophone, flute, oboe, clarinet |
| Years active | 1956–2014 |
Benjamín Brea (born September 18, 1946 – died April 23, 2014) was a very talented musician from Spain who lived in Venezuela. He was great at playing many different kinds of music. He was especially known for jazz, but he could also play classical music, folk music, Latin music, and pop music. Benjamín Brea was not just a musician; he also arranged music and taught others.
Contents
Benjamín Brea's Musical Journey
Benjamín Brea was born in Galicia, Spain. In the early 1960s, he moved with his family to Venezuela. There, he studied music in Caracas and learned from a famous teacher named Vicente Emilio Sojo.
Starting His Music Career
Benjamín started playing music professionally in 1962. He could play many instruments, including the saxophone, flute, oboe, clarinet, and even the bass clarinet. He played with local dance bands and also worked on music for movies and TV commercials.
He became a member of the Radio Caracas Television orchestra. He also played with the Philharmonic Orchestra of Caracas. This orchestra was led by Aldemaro Romero, a well-known conductor.
Playing with Famous Artists
Benjamín Brea worked with many famous musicians. He played with jazz stars like Paquito D'Rivera and Arturo Sandoval. He also performed with pop music legends such as Julio Iglesias and even The Jackson Five and The Supremes. He was often a "sideman," which means he played with other main artists.
He also played with many Venezuelan singers. These included Soledad Bravo, Simón Díaz, and Ricardo Montaner.
His Own Albums
Even though Benjamín Brea played with many artists, he released only a few of his own albums. His first solo album, Another Point of View, came out in 1995. It featured classic jazz standards like Moonlight Serenade and Summertime. It also had a special version of the Andean song El Cóndor Pasa.
His second album, Un Viejo Amor, was more romantic. His third album, Christmas Saxes, was very unique. Benjamín played all the saxophone parts himself! He recorded the soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones. This album was a collection of traditional Christmas songs.
Jazz Festival Involvement
Benjamín Brea also led his own jazz band. He was an important part of the El Hatillo Jazz Festival. This is a yearly music event held in the small town of El Hatillo Town, Venezuela.
Later Years
In 2014, Benjamín Brea became ill. He sadly passed away on April 23, 2014, at the age of 67. He left behind a wonderful legacy of music.
His Albums
Here are the albums Benjamín Brea released:
- 1995 Another Point of View
- 1997 Un Viejo Amor
- 1999 Christmas Saxes
- 2000 Siempre Seremos Niños
