A Benefit Performance for The Good Shepherd Center
7:30 p.m. April 17, 2020
Hannah Block Community Arts Center
120 South 2nd Street, Wilmington, NC 28401
19th Annual Arts Sensation is serving up a lively and entertaining evening showcasing wonderful local talent for a music and dance spectacular! This year’s beneficiary is the Good Shepherd Center, whose mission is to be a safety net for our neighbors in crisis by providing hot and nutritious meals, case management support, showers and restrooms, clean clothing, warm beds, an onsite medical clinic and a pathway to safe and affordable housing…all with dignity and respect.
Music this year is from Benny Hill, Wilmington’s own alto saxophone virtuoso who is reminiscent of many greats from classical to jazz, yet brings a distinct style and voice of his own. Benny is a true crowd-pleaser and never fails to raise excitement and enthusiasm while on stage.
For the past twenty years, Benny has performed in a diverse set of musical groups and engagements, ranging from orchestra pits to cruise ships to featured artist and soloist at numerous venues across the country and abroad. He is well versed in the many styles and genres of popular and classical music and specializes in jazz performance and steeped in the tradition of many of the past greats including Julian ‘Cannonball’ Adderley, Jackie McLean, Dexter Gordon, John Coltrane and Charlie Parker. Benny’s improvisations on the Alto Saxophone are reminiscent of these greats, yet he has a distinct style and voice of his own. Benny is a true crowd-pleaser and never fails to raise excitement and enthusiasm while on stage.
Benny has shared the stage with such notable jazz musicians as Trumpeter Ray Codrington, Guitarist Melvin Sparks, Trombonist and Arranger Slide Hampton, bassist Percy Heath, drummer Winard Harper, Saxophonist Ron Blake, Trumpeter Eddie Henderson, and New Orleans’ Dirty Dozen Brass Band. He has also opened for roots rocker Edwin McCain and RatDog, with legendary Guitarist/Vocalist Bob Weir and Bassist Rob Wasserman and performed with James Brown’s “Soul Generals”. Benny has a Bachelor’s of Music from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and a Masters of Music from Northern Illinois University. Benny currently resides in Wilmington, NC and is an adjunct professor at Cape Fear Community College.
Arts Sensation also brings a variety of dance creations from the genres of tap, classical ballet, jazz, modern, folk dance, and street dance/hip-hop, presented by local choreographers and dancers. And with their fine style, the captivating Company “T” Tap Dancers return to wow audiences with a vintage flair. Expect an inspired and exciting evening of music and dance that is sure to bring you lasting memories of the amazing talent in our community.
ARTS SENSATION! is presented by Forward Motion Dance Company.