viola
Benni von Gutzeit is a Grammy-nominated violist, composer, and long-time member of the acclaimed Turtle Island Quartet. Renowned for his groundbreaking work in jazz improvisation on the viola, Benni has earned international recognition for redefining the expressive possibilities of his instrument.
Born into a musical family in Bochum, Germany, Benni began studying viola at the age of four—starting on a tiny violin strung with viola strings. As a teenager, he won Germany’s Jugend musiziert competition multiple times before discovering his passion for jazz. This led him to formal studies in jazz performance at conservatories in Linz, Austria, and Amsterdam, where he became an active figure in the Dutch jazz and improvised music scenes.
In 2010, Benni moved to New York City to pursue a master’s degree in jazz at the Manhattan School of Music, studying with such notable mentors as Dave Liebman and Phil Markowitz. Two years later, he joined the Turtle Island Quartet, touring extensively and performing at major venues all around the world.
In addition to his work with the quartet, Benni is a sought-after studio musician and improviser in the New York jazz scene. He has collaborated with an impressive array of artists, including Terence Blanchard, Taylor Eigsti, Ravi Coltrane, Mark Feldman, Brian Blade, John Patitucci, Dave Stryker, Ernst Reijseger, and Linda May Han Oh.