In conjunction with Remembering Vilna: The Holocaust and the Art of Samuel Bak, the Polk Museum of Art welcomes Dr. Jeffrey Benatar, Assistant Professor of Music at Florida Southern College, for a special lecture/recital celebrating Jewish identity through a musical lens. Jews in Jazz: A Lecture/Recital presents biographical and musical thumbnails on Jewish Jazz composers, musicians, and icons. Speaking about their innovations, impact, and importance in the development of Jazz, Dr. Benatar will perform solo piano versions of seminal pieces complete with on-the-spot improvisations.

Please note this event is in place of our regularly scheduled Curator Tour (returning in November).

About our Guest Speaker

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. Dr. 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.  

Dr. Benatar received his DMA in Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media from the Eastman School of Music, an MA in Jazz History and Research from Rutgers-Newark, and a BM in Jazz Studies (Piano) Performance from The Ohio State University.  His composition, “Hank and Joe” for Jazz Septet, was called “superb” and “intense” by JazzTimes magazine in 2016. Dr. 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.