Benack, Heid families to close jazz series

Family is a keynote of jazz concerts at George Heid’s house in Aspinwall. His son George III, a drummer, was the star of a Father’s Day concert in June, and his brother Bill played keyboards in July. So it just feels right that Benny Benack III — with his trumpet, flugelhorn and father, saxophonist Benny Benack II — will close out the Lighthouse Arts concert series Sunday at 201 Center Ave., Aspinwall.

The concert is set for 2-4 p.m., and doors open at 1 p.m. Food and drinks will be provided by caterer Clinton Bleil, and suggested donation is $10.

In addition to Benack III, the seventh and final concert will feature alto saxophonist Aaron Johnson, of New York City; pianist Theron Brown of Akron, Ohio; bassist Tony DePaolis, of the North Side; and drummer George Heid III, who lives in an apartment above this unique, 100-seat venue with a recording studio.

Heid Sr., a second-generation recording engineer, said this intimate setting has inspired everyone from drummer Roger Humphries and RH Factor, who opened the series, to pianists Cliff Barnes and Joseph “Sonny” Barbato.

“These are gifted artists who play with such feeling and such artistry,” he said. “The acoustics of this space let them take the music where they want to take it.”

Heid Sr. is one of the founders of Lighthouse Arts Inc., a 10-year-old nonprofit that funded the concert series with grants and donations. He’s proud to continue the legacy of his father, also named George Heid, who recorded local jazz greats Billy Strayhorn, Earl Garner, Mary Lou Williams, Ray Brown, Ahmad Jamal and George Benson in studios in the Century Building and later, the William Penn Hotel.

For more information, go to George Heid Sr.’s Facebook page.