Home • Bio • Buy CD • MySpace • Press Kit Reviews • Radio • Contact • Links - Biography - Brian Bender (bandleader, composer, trombone, trumpet, melodica, keyboards, percussion) has performed in the Cape Verde Islands (West Africa), Egypt, Israel, Alaska, France, Italy, the United Kingdom and throughout the United States. He has performed at Carnegie Hall as well as the Presidential Inauguration of Bill Clinton. Brian's compositions and arrangements for Little Shop of Horas blend original and traditional Jewish melodies with Latin Jazz, Reggae, Calypso, Samba, Middle Eastern and African rhythms. He has formerly performed with O.J. Ekemode and the Nigerian All-Stars (High-Life, Soukous, Afrobeat), Kotoja (Highlife, JuJu, Afrobeat), Ibrahima Camera, Black Rebels (African Reggae), La Perfecta (Salsa/Merengue), Creacion (Latin Jazz), The Berkshire Bateria Escola De Samba (Brazilian), Lucky Seven (Ska) and many other groups. In addition leading the band Little Shop of Horas, he currently performs with The Wholesale Klezmer Band, the Yiddishkeit Klezmer Ensemble, The Pangeans (World Beat), The Riddim Makers (Reggae), Big Bandemoneum (Celtic), the World Beatniks, the Gumbo Jumbo Dixieland Band, the Brian Bender Jazz Group, Beans & Rice (Blues) and other groups. He also teaches lessons and workshops on trombone, piano and trumpet focusing on improvisation and playing music "by ear." He also teaches Jazz, Klezmer and original music ensembles to children and adults.