Joe Beninati

Portland, ME-based drummer and percussionist Joe Beninati is the youngest of three children and grew up in a suburb of NYC surrounded by musicians. Throughout his journey as a drummer, Joe has found inspiration from such jazz legends as Buddy Rich, Tony Williams and Elvin Jones, to classic rockers like John Bonham and Mick Fleetwood, to the more contemporary influences of Steve Gadd, Jojo Mayer, Eric Harland, Chris Dave, Mark Guiliana, Matt Chamberlain, Carter Beauford and Jimmy Chamberlin. While drawing much inspiration from well-known musicians and learning from various teachers, Joe credits his development to three drum mentors in particular: Jazz drummer David Jones Jr., Howard Hirsh, (Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra, countless orchestras and Broadway) Bob Meyer (John Abercrombie and Joe Lovano) and Jordan Perlson (Snarky Puppy, Matisyahu, Charlie Hunter, Blue Man Group, Becca Stevens, Kaki King).

Joe has over 40 private students over the course of a year and manages and engineers the recording Studio at 317 Main St Community Music Center in Yarmouth, ME. Currently, you can find him performing and recording with Mike Maurice, Jason Ward and the West End Mules, Matt Newberg and the Heart of Gold, a Jazz trio under his name and many other groups all around New England.