Scat Singing, Physics, and Getting Roasted by Jazz Times with Lorin Benedict

We sit down with scat singer and physicist Lorin Benedict to explore his highly unique vocal improvisations and what it’s like to start a serious music career at age 31. Lorin explains the extra-musical origins of his nonsense-syllable language and why he treats his voice like a horn, drawing inspiration from instrumental giants. He shares hilarious insights into his own self-awareness, discussing why he proudly displays a negative Jazz Times review on his website, and reflects on how his intense listening habits were shaped by a childhood surrounded by Cleveland Orchestra musicians. We also dive into how Steve Coleman convinced him to jump into the scene, his collaborations with Kim Cass and Louis Cole's Knower, the parallels between physics and music, and his upcoming duo albums with Anthony Fung and Caroline Davis.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 - Intro: The advantages of starting a music career later in life
• 00:49 - Developing a unique language of syllables and nonsense words
• 02:40 - Approaching the voice as an instrument rather than a traditional singer
• 06:01 - Recording in the bathroom and analyzing his own syllabic phrasing
• 08:44 - Agreeing with a negative review from Jazz Times ("annoying wordless vocals")
• 19:28 - Growing up with classical musicians in the Cleveland Orchestra
• 23:35 - Going to physics grad school at UC Berkeley and meeting Vijay Iyer
• 25:54 - How Steve Coleman convinced Lorin to become a musician at 31
• 45:13 - Forming a standards duo with bassist Kim Cass
• 48:19 - Connecting with Louis Cole and sitting in with Knower
• 56:22 - The dual life of a condensed matter physicist and avant-garde scat singer
• 01:02:36 - Upcoming duo albums with Anthony Fung and Caroline Davis

Personnel Credits:

• 17:22 - Logan Kane & Clarence Penn
• 36:52 - Lorin solo in Cleveland, OH
• 1:00:53 - Tim Duff

BIRCH GROVE MEDIA

• Web: birchgrove.io
• Follow us: @birch.grove.media on Instagram.
• Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@BirchGroveMedia
• Get the Record: Shop our current 180g LP and digital releases on our website. Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.