Benji Kaplan at Cornelia Street Cafe

When I first met Benji Kaplan, about five years ago, he was busking on the Q train platform in the New York City subway system.  He struck me as someone very gifted, a young guitarist who started playing professionally at an early age, with a deep appreciation for the Brazilian sound, and a clear sense of the gifts he contributes to it as an American.  I subsequently met him again at California Brazil Camp, where such incredible teachers as Guinga, Moyseis Marques, and Jorge Alabé teach master classes.  There, listening to his music away from the roar of train tracks, I finally understood -- not just intellectually but with my heart -- that you really don't have to be Brazilian to play like one.  Guinga dubbed Benji a genius, the best American player of Brazilian music.


Benji Kaplan with the great Brazilian composer and guitarist Guinga, at California Brazil Camp 2009

It's three years later. Benji has disappeared from subway platforms, and the only way to hear him live now is either to be lucky enough to blunder into a restaurant like Caliu on the odd Monday night, or to pay to hear him play at a venue for serious music lovers such as the Cornelia Street Cafe.  The Second Annual Brasilfest, a three-day festival of Brazilian music, starts there on Wednesday, and Benji is concluding the first night with a set of original pieces, many from his new album, Meditações No Violão (Meditations on Guitar).  It's his first of what will hopefully be many appearances at the West Village venue.

I thought about reviewing the album, but there's very little I could say that hasn't already been said here.  It's a perfect combination of technique and heart.  Benji also shows a real familiarity with styles such as choro, baiao, and even Portuguese fado.  These styles deserve to enter the American mainstream just the way bossa nova and samba did decades ago, and Benji, as well as Rob Curto and festival curator Billy Newman (Thursday), are doing their small part to make it happen.  It's exciting to witness.


Benji Kaplan will be playing with Leco Reis (bass), Luiz Ebert (drums), and Seth Trachy (sax) at the Cornelia Street Cafe, 29 Cornelia Street in the West Village, at 10pm on Wednesday the 15th.  As with any intimate venue, reservations are recommended, and can be made by calling 212-989-9319.