For those unaware, born in 1971, Benjie Porecki began playing trumpet at the age of ten. But it wasn’t until he took up piano two years later that everything fell into place. Already drawn to jazz and blues, he began to practice relentlessly and, after graduating from high school and attending a semester at the Berklee School of Music, decided to pursue music full-time.

He eventually found himself sitting in with musicians like Ron Holloway, Marshall Keys, and Chuck Brown and, as a result, learned an almost chameleon-like ability to play various styles of music on piano, synthesizer, and organ. His amazing versatility caught the attention of Severn Records who offered Benjie a recording deal.

Benjie’s affiliation with Severn brought further recognition with performances on several Severn-produced projects, and cutting to today and his brand new album All That Matters (due out January 1st, 2025 via Funklove Productions) features the versatile and distinctive pianist-organist performing melodic originals and covers in a jazz trio.

Ranging from accessible grooves to thoughtful ballads, here on All That Matters Benjie creates a program filled with variety and subtle surprises.

1. Passage of Time [4:14]
2. Just When I Needed You [5:21]
3. Wise Decisions [6:39]
4. Home At Last [4:13]
5. Sonora [5:29]
6. All That Matters [5:06]
7. Intermezzo [4:59]
8. Bring It On Home [6:24]
9. Letting Go [2:24]
10. She’s Gone [6:00]

Seated at the head of a most wondrous musical trio - including both bassist Michael Bowie and drummer Mark Prince - we are first brought forth the sweepingly elegant Passage of Time and a simply beautiful rendition of the Roberta Flack track Just When I Needed You, and then we get the organ-driven balladry of Wise Decisions, the furtively sculpted Home At Last, and the languishing jazz waltz Sonora.

Along next is the sedate gossamer spun within All That Matters, which is itself backed seamlessly by the soulful, late night, after dinner tune Intermezzo, my favorite track here, the Gospel-tinged Sam Cooke cut Bring It On Home is next, the album rounding out on the veritably shimmering Letting Go, closing on their lush take on the Hall & Oates classic She’s Gone.

Simply put, All That Matters is the latest accomplishment in Benjie’s career, a grooving and subtle trio outing that includes some of his most sensitive and inventive writing and playing.

Official Purchase Link

www.benjieporecki.com