Alex Benjamin is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, and bandleader whose restless creativity has propelled him through some of the most adventurous corners of the Americana and improvisational music worlds. Based in Durham, North Carolina, Alex has toured extensively—averaging nearly 180 dates a year—playing keyboards, drums, and percussion alongside acclaimed artists and ensembles including Hiss Golden Messenger, Andy Frasco & the U.N., the Justin Mazer Telecaster Trio, and the legendary Bob Weir. His résumé also features collaborations with Madeline Hawthorne, Native Harrow, G. Calvin Weston, Erik Deutsch, Pickin’ on the Dead, Phil Cook, Pat Finnerty, Billy Martin’s Fang Percussion, Buddy Miller + Jim Lauderdale, Midnight North, Pappy Biondo, Jackie Greene & Friends, and John Kimock, among many, many others.
Across four immersive tracks, Alex’s debut EP as Producer/Composer/Bandleader—Alex Benjamin w/ Phil Cook + Justin Mazer—distills years of global touring, creative detours, and late-night explorations into a singular instrumental-Americana statement. Slated for release on August 8, 2025, and mastered by D. James Goodwin, the acoustic project showcases Alex’s gift for composition, arrangement, and production, as well as his belief that a great record is born when the right people and the right circumstances collide. “The music is a mixture of influences, from Quincy Jones to classic instrumentals like “Amen, Brother” to Nick Drake to Glenn Lee to random cassettes my grandfather dubbed for me when I was 12 years old. Of course being a drummer we ended up with several odd time signatures in the songs too".”
“This EP is a glimpse—but by no means a summary—of my life as a touring musician,” Alex explains. “It’s a positive step bouncing back from the derailments of the pandemic and a reminder that inspiration can come from the most unexpected places.”
For this EP, Alex hand-selected several of his dearest collaborators—guitarist/pianist Phil Cook, improvising journeyman guitarist Justin Mazer, Tyler Thompson (of Fruition), as well as piano teacher and mentor Erik Deutsch. Over two intense days in a suburban strip-mall studio, they recorded live takes of four instrumental vignettes—ranging from the drone-inflected meditation of “Balsam Fir Song/Intro” to the restless momentum of the title track’s closing “Night Racers.”
“Songs 2 and 4 are short stories; tracks 1 and 3 are musical vignettes,” Alex notes. “I wanted to leave room for Phil and Justin to improvise and be spontaneous, while guiding the project’s direction as producer—hiring the right people, setting the tone, even picking the right key for the song and then just stepping back.” He credits engineer Chris Boerner’s easygoing rigor and D. James Goodwin’s mastering finesse for helping translate that energy into the final record.
Alex’s musical journey—shaped by a summer spent sleeping on a couch at Portland’s self-named “House of Rock and Roll,” creative drumming studies with Billy Martin and Cyro Baptista, and his early days capturing ideas on GarageBand—finds a new chapter here. The first single, “Gunpowder Falls/Interlude,” arrives June 20 2025, to introduce listeners to a warm, narrative-driven sound world that honors place, community, and the thrill of discovery.
With Alex Benjamin w/ Phil Cook + Justin Mazer, Alex steps confidently into the spotlight—not just as a sideman or accompanist, but as a fully formed composer and producer whose instrumental storytelling invites every listener to create their own journey.
Phil Cook says, “I toured the country with Al a few years back and loved how comprehensive his musical abilities were. It didn’t surprise me that he is also a great composer and arranger and was thrilled when he asked me to help him realize this new project. Playing with Justin Mazer was a nice bonus as well. "
In addition to performing across the US, Al has played shows in Canada, Germany, Switzerland, and the Virgin Islands. Notable venues and festivals include the Kennedy Center, Red Rocks Amphitheater, Ryman Auditorium, the Academy of Music, 9:30 Club, Ogden Theater, Cayamo, High Sierra Music Festival, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Electric Forest, Winter WonderGrass, and Peach Fest.
He is currently open to in-person or remote recording sessions, lessons, Film/TV, or playing for your upcoming tour.