The fusion of world rhythms and straight-ahead jazz make this passionate performer an audience favorite all over the world.

Benito Gonzalez is being recognized as an exciting pianist and composer for his well-received debut album, "Starting Point" (Christian McBride, Antonio Sanchez,Rene McLean, Ron Blake) and as winner of the 2005 Great American Jazz Piano Competition.

Presently, Benito is creating a very personal body of work for his sophomore album as a leader that will feature him as an improviser. After two years touring with jazz master, Kenny Garrett, he added numerous festivals and international jazz club dates to his credit. Benito has shared the stage with Curtis Fuller, Pharaoh Sanders, Bobby Hutcherson, Christian McBride, Ignacio Berroa, Billy Hart, Al Foster, Roy Hargrove,Rene McLean, Steve Turre, Hamiet Bluiett, Antonio Sanchez, T.K. Blue, Nicholas Payton, Jackie Mclean and Kenny Garrett.

His multi-cultural talents have led to frequent recording dates; from American jazz masters to West African musicians to Latin bands. He has also served as musical director for several Venezuelan recording artists.  

The Flail is a New York City-based jazz quintet. The members met while attending the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music and quickly became friends. From its inception in 2001, the Flail has focused on developing a group sound; as such, there has never been a 'leader' of the band - every member has an equal voice, musically and otherwise. This attitude is woven through all aspects of their music.

The Flail's repertoire is mainly comprised of original compositions written by all the members of the band. Some of these compositions were inspired by direct experiences the band has gone through together. Others were written with the personalities and musical sound of the members in mind. Some were even written as a challenge. Rather than thinking in terms of genres and styles, or of even 'old' and 'new', The Flail strives to tell their story through music.

The Flail has performed at some of the biggest and most prestigious venues and events in the world. Over the course of four tours in France they have played more than fifty concerts to packed houses in Paris, Lyon, Grenoble, Renne, Ardeche, and Marseille; highlights include Jazz a Vienne (2002, 2004) and the Marseille Festival du Jazz des Cinq Continents (2002, 2005). Their latest tour (2007) brought them to Madrid, Spain, for the first time. In New York City they perform at such places as Smalls Jazz Club, Fat Cat and Sweet Rhythm, while on tours of the East Coast they frequent Blues Alley and Twins Jazz in Washington, DC, An Die Musik in Baltimore, and Chris' Jazz Café in Philadelphia.

The Flail has released three albums, Live in France (2002), taken from one particularly lively concert in Grenoble, Never Fear (2006), recorded at the famed Acousti Studio in Paris, and The Flail (2008), recorded live at Smalls in NYC in November 2007.