Rhonda Benin in “The Voice, The Hands, the Feet”

On Saturday, April 4th at 11AM, Tandy Beal and Company presents Rhonda Benin, vocalist extraordinaire, as part of the 2019-2020 ArtSmart Family Concert Series at the Santa Cruz Memorial Veterans Building. Benin is joined by her band members Lorenzo Hawkins (piano), Ruth Davies (acoustic bass), and Javier Navarette (percussion).

Starting with the first instrument, the voice, and a simple melody, Benin’s ensemble will add multi-layered rhythms with feet, clapping and other hand percussion. Then, to round out our rhythm section, they will add the piano and bass. In the oral tradition of call and response, the audience becomes part of the music for a rousing and educational concert welcoming everyone to use their most handy instrument, the body!

Rhonda was last heard in Santa Cruz during the 2018-2019 ArtSmart Season with the GRAMMY-nominated vocal ensemble, Linda Tillery and The Cultural Heritage Choir. Benin has earned a reputation for her showmanship, magnetic stage personality, humor, and her great dancing. Rhonda’s resume includes performances at SF Jazz, Yoshi’s, MOAD, The Healdsburg, Sonoma, Burlingame, Sausalito, Filmore, and Calistoga Jazz Festivals. In addition to singing, Rhonda is producer and founder of the annual Women’s History Month show “Just Like A Woman” a tribute to Bay Area Women In Music.

“Benin’s got a coolly hip vocal, with a bit of hush and sugar and an undercurrent of big booming power. She can bend notes with a bass, talk serenade with a piano and steam the kettle from the drums” -Pacifica Tribune