“The chameleon-like Gregg Bendian—who can just as easily be found performing left-of-center form and function with his Interzone group as propelling his Mahavishnu Project through a remarkable performance. Research may reflect Bendian's ever-searching, ever-evolving approach to music, but it's also a complete, self-contained statement that, though not appearing to be for the faint-of-heart on the surface, yields unexpected rewards for those brave enough to pay attention.” - John Kelman (AllAboutJazz.com)
Gregg Bendian
Percussionist, Composer, Producer, Educator, creator of The ProgCast
From: Teaneck, New Jersey.
Has worked with:
Todd Rundgren
Jan Hammer
The Mahavishnu Project
Keneally-Bendian-Lunn
John Zorn
The Musical Box
Derek Bailey
Nels Cline
Cecil Taylor
Pat Metheny
Ornette Coleman
Zoot Horn Rollo
"Since the early '90s, drummer Gregg Bendian has distinguished himself as an adventurous and accomplished player-composer through his sideman work with the likes of Derek Bailey, Cecil Taylor, Ornette Coleman, John Zorn, Peter Brötzmann and Pat Metheny while also leading his own Interzone Quartet, and Trio Pianissimo. His most recent recording is the startlingly virtuosic solo drum project, “Research,” on his own Aggregate Music label. But Bendian's most passionate undertaking in recent years has been his Mahavishnu Project, the band he formed in 2001 to tackle the extreme technical demands of recreating and interpreting the incendiary music of the Mahavishnu Orchestra." - Bill Milkowski (AllAboutJazz.com)
Teaching Experience
Gregg Bendian has been teaching music for over 35 years. He has been composer-in-residence and guest lecturer at CalArts, UCLA, Peabody Conservatory, Sarah Lawrence College, and The Juilliard School. He is a popular clinician for Drum Workshop drums, Paiste cymbals, LP percussion, Musser mallet instruments, and a judge for Downbeat's Student Music Awards. Gregg develops and teaches courses in studio production, music history, and composing/arranging at William Paterson University of New Jersey as well as privately, in-person and now on Zoom/Skype.
Composition/Arranging
An accomplished percussionist and a composer of over 200 works, Bendian has created a substantial body of innovative instrumental music for jazz, rock, percussion (solo and ensemble) and mixed chamber groups, which include his Interzone and Trio Pianissimo bands. His library music is used extensively in CBS-TV's "48 Hours" and "48 Hours Mystery." Gregg's music is published by Iamuziks (ASCAP).
Oral History/Archival Experience
For the Yale Oral History of American Music, Bendian has contributed over 150 expansive interviews with major figures including Wayne Shorter, Sonny Rollins, Quincy Jones, Carla Bley, Laurie Anderson, and Steve Reich. Bendian is archivist/producer for the Bottom Line Archive of historic concerts. Recorded over 30 years at the legendary Greenwich Village venue, this important series features releases by Jack Bruce & Billy Cobham, The Brecker Bros, Lou Reed/Kris Kristofferson, Kenny Rankin, Pete Seeger/Roger McGuinn, Doc Watson, Ralph Stanley, and Harry Chapin, each with informative historical essays by Gregg. He has expanded his efforts in capturing music history with The ProgCast, a podcast presenting in-depth discussions with both well-known and emerging artists of all styles and genres.