Ben Gellice steps into spotlight Jan. 17

Written by Staff Reports Tuesday, January 08, 2013 04:58 pm

Behn Gillece

CAPE MAY – Behn Gillece will take the Jazz Vespers stage on at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 17 at the First Presbyterian Church, Hughes and Decatur streets.

Gillece, 27, will lead a quintet comprised of Dan Kostenik on organ, Ken Fowser on tenor sax, and Aaron Kimmel on drums.

“I’m real excited to have this lineup for the Vespers gig,” said Gillece. “The combination of sax, organ and vibes should be very interesting because I haven’t played with that combination very much.”

The group will play several of Gillece’s compositions from his latest CD as well as a new disk that is currently in progress. They will also play some familiar jazz standards.

Gillece started taking music seriously when he was 14. He started as a percussionist in his high school band.

“I always liked banging on things around the house, so naturally the first thing I decided to try was percussion,” he said.

Percussion wasn’t entirely satisfying, however.

“You had to wait page after page until the triangle or cymbal part came round,” he said. “Meanwhile everyone else was playing away on these wonderful melodies. Guess I was impatient.”

Gillece graduated from Rowan University and went on to a graduate music program at SUNY Purchase. After graduation he appeared at gigs in Philadelphia and New York City. He has played at the Lincoln, Kennedy and Kimmel Centers and at several jazz festivals around the world.

He played in the 2008 PASIC Jazz Improvisation competition and took first place. He has released a CD, “Full View” on Positone, and will be releasing a new album in the next few months with co-leader Ken Fowser.

Limited free parking is available at the church. The church is wheelchair accessible. A $5 minimum donation is suggested.

For more information, call 884-0680 or visit www.capemayjazzvespers.com.