Studio Taping with Christian Wiggs Big Band

Taking inspiration from luminaries such as Kurt Elling, Christian Wiggs is a vocalist, bandleader, lyricist, producer, director, artist manager, educator, and founder of Bandstand Presents.

Christian has shared the stage with acclaimed musicians such as Benny Benack III, Martina DaSilva, Bryan Carter, Chad Lefkowitz-Brown, Steven Feifke, Aubrey Logan, Alexa Tarantino, Bijon Watson, Danny Jonokuchi and George Fludas. In addition to collaboration, Christian serves as artist management for Tony Award-winning drummer/orchestrator Bryan Carter and saxophonist Chad LB.

Wiggs has released three studio albums and serves as the host and producer of “Off The Bandstand” and has produced records for Emmet Cohen, GRAMMY Award-winner Steven Feifke, Benny Benack and Kate Kortum. Off stage, Christian serves as an active producer and director, his work behind the camera being featured by Playbill, ABC News, NPR Live Sessions, and WRTI 90.1.

By age 33, Emmy-nominated trumpeter and singer Benny Benack III has proven to be that rarest of talents: not only a fiery trumpet player with a stirring command of the post-bop trumpet vernacular in the vein of Kenny Dorham and Freddie Hubbard, but also a singer with a sly, mature, naturally expressive delivery in the post-Sinatra mold, performing standards and his own astute songs with a thrilling sense of showmanship.

This dual-threat ability was recognized by the 2022 Downbeat Critics Poll where he appeared as not only the #2 Rising Star Male Vocalist, but a top Rising Star Trumpeter as well. His superb intonation and bracing virtuosity enable him to handle astounding feats of originally composed vocalese (complex solos with written lyrics). On top of it all, he’s a highly capable pianist as well.

Benny has performed internationally as an Emcee/Host for the Youtube sensation Postmodern Jukebox, and achieved his own viral success amassing millions of views for his crooning alongside the Grammy-award winning “8-Bit Big Band”. Benny has appeared as a trumpet soloist in more commercial circles alongside Josh Groban, Ben Folds and fashion icon Isaac Mizrahi. His television credits include playing in the house bands for CBS’s “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” and NBC’s “Maya and Marty”.

Benack has been featured at Birdland, Jazz @ Lincoln Center, Mezzrow, Bemelmans Bar at the Carlyle and has also been a special guest with the Pittsburgh Symphony Pops Orchestra, the Columbus Jazz Orchestra and the Minsk Philharmonic Orchestra.