Marco Benevento is a Woodstock-based pianist, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who is part of the experimental jazz scene, often using samplers, loops, circuit bent toys, guitars as well as glockenspiels to augment his sound. He’s recorded and collaborated with the likes of Mike Gordon, Trey Anastasio, and Phil Lesh. Benevento’s most recent album, “Let it Slide,” was released in 2019 to critical acclaim. Read his snapshot of a typical week in Woodstock full of family-life, winter recreation and, of course, lots of music.

Saturday:
8am I start my weekend by going to our chicken coop to grab some eggs for breakfast before heading to Woodstock for an indoor tennis match with my friend Jake Guralnick. Jake manages Nick Lowe and Los Straitjackets so it’s nice to chat with him about how musicians are surviving during the pandemic. We talk about virtual performance platforms like Noon Chorus, StageIt and FANS, which allows fans to buy tickets to online shows to provide income for touring musicians who aren’t touring anymore (sad face).

11am Because I’m close to town, I stop by The Woodstock Music Shop, a dope family-owned music store with lots of cool used vintage gear as well as some vinyl! I wind up scooping up an old kids toy called Fabulous Fred that will probably make its way into a new song I’m working on.

Sunday:
I love Sundays ... or what my family likes to call: Pasta Sundays. I’ve been eating pasta with my parents, cousins, aunts and uncles every Sunday since I was a kid (my mom makes the best sauce in the Hudson Valley). When we lived in New Jersey we would get together promptly at 1pm and eat for like three hours. Now it’s scaled back to just my parents and my own family because everyone has since moved. After dinner, we play cards and eat cookies we brought from Overlook Bakery (they seriously have the most delicious chocolate chip cookies, magic bars, apple bars, cakes – everything). My wife and I head home, put the kids to bed and have one more glass of wine while sitting outside to gaze at the stars on this crisp winter night.

Monday:
8am I make myself a cup of Yerba Mate (I’m sponsored by Guayaki so I have lots of Mate!) and check in with my kids, Ruby and Ila, to make sure they’re logged into class. They do a hybrid program this year at The Woodstock Day School (WDS), a progressive private school a mile from our house. Our kids have been going there since preschool, so it’s safe to say, I love it.

9am I pop downstairs to see my wife Katie who’s in her basement studio where she silk screens and makes all kinds of cool jewelry (KT Benevento). I then head over to my studio (Fred Short Recording Studio), which is a quick couple steps from my front deck. It’s nice to get a big chunk of work time in while the kids and the wifey are busy. I’m finishing my eighth studio record so it’s easy to spend between four or five hours reamping things and bouncing mixes to my two track tape machine.

4pm I just looked out the sliding glass door in my studio and caught a glimpse of my kiddos sledding down the hill in our backyard!!!

7pm My wife pops her head in and announces dinner: a big bowl of amazing Asian Greens salad mix from FarmStock, a company made of a group of self-described corporate NYC dropouts who’ve traded the city for the farm and nailed it. We also eat a winter vegetable stew and drink delicious pet-nat from Kingston Wine Co., which has the best selection of wine in the area. Maybe I’m biased considering that Michael, the owner, is my neighbor.

Tuesday
8am More Yerba Mate and school check-ins with my kids.

10am I gotta go lay down an accordian track for my friend Chris Maxwell who owns and runs Goathouse Studios. He’s working on the music for the latest episode of “Bob’s Burgers” and has me play a simple melody. Chris is an amazing songwriter as well as a producer. While I’m there, his wife, Kelly Storrs, pops her head in to hand me a homemade lighting fixture that she created for our bedroom. She’s the owner and artist behind Low Land Studios, a porcelain handcrafted lighting company based in Kingston.

4pm I log onto Live Lesson Masters to teach a weekly virtual piano student who lives in Philly. After our hour is up, I head inside and eat dinner with my family.

Wednesday:
11am Jeremy Bernstein comes by the studio this morning to have me overdub some piano on his new Burnell Pines record. He’s an amazing musician as well as the owner of a newly refinished lodge and restaurant/bar in Mt. Tremper called The Pines (hoping to head there for dinner later). My wife prints all his merch for trade and so we go there often (they have the best canned Spicy Grapefruit Margaritas).

6pm On our way to The Pines ... maybe there will even be live music or bingo tonight.

Thursday:
10am I cross the river and head into Rhinecliff to do some work with producer and musician Leon Michaels. He’s got a chill home studio that overlooks the Hudson river. I see Leon at least once a week because we also play tennis together. Leon produced my last record (“Let It Slide”) and has since had me over to record on a handful of different records from Freddie Gibbs and Hani to movie soundtracks and his own stuff (El Michels Affair). Today we laid down some ideas that might make it onto a Black Thought track with the incredibly talented bass player Nick Movshon.

4pm I cross the mighty Hudson River, help out with the kids, and get ready for another home cooked meal.

Friday:
9am We decided to let the kids ditch online school

today in favor of skiing at Hunter Mountain. We’re looking forward to seeing our buddy Chris Dantzig who works up there at New York Zipline Adventures (which is truly an incredible experience in the summer!). Chris saw my band play at Mountain Jam back in the day and we’ve remained friends. He always hooks me and the family up with a discounted ticket for ziplining and sometimes for lift tickets. Looking forward to snowboarding today!

5pm We head over to Prospect (at Scribner’s). We try to visit Scribner’s once a season for a delicious meal or to swim outside. I’ve also DJ’d there a handful of times. The folks that work there are so hospitable, so we feel right at home.

Photography By Casey Kelbaugh

Volume 5