Kris Allen and Benjamin Lanz in Concert

Real Art Ways presents a free concert featuring West Hartford native’s Kris Allen and Ben Lanz.

Kris Allen is an American saxophonist, composer, educator, and recording artist. He can be found touring widely as a leader or as part of the collaboratively-led “Triangle Offense” trio with Jonathan Barber and Matt Dwonszyk. He has also enjoyed a long career as a sought-after sideman, working in the groups of Illinois Jacquet, Gerald Wilson, Andy Gonzales, Jimmy Greene, Helen Sung, Winard Harper, Andy Laverne, the Mingus Dynasty, Avery Sharpe, Andy Jaffe, Earl Macdonald, Noah Baerman, Ike Sturm, Rogerio Boccato, Kendrick Oliver’s New Life Orchestra, the Curtis Brothers, and Mario Pavone among others. As a composer, Kris has been honored with numerous awards, commissions and residencies including a State of Connecticut Artist Fellowship and a Macdowell Artist Colony Residency. He has collaborated with dancers, poets, and visual artists, as well as musicians from across diverse genres.

Benjamin Lanz is a multi instrumental musician, arranger, songwriter, and composer. Most commonly associated with the bands The National and Beirut, Ben has also worked with Sufjan Stevens, Booker T Jones, Taylor Swift, and Sharon Van Etten. As a horn player, mainly a trombonist, but tuba and other horns as well, Benjamin has performed across the musical spectrum, from The Kočani Arkester, to The Kennedy Center Opera Orchestra, to Anthony Braxton and everything in between. As a guitarist and multi instrumentalist, Ben fronts the band LNZNDRF with Scott and Bryan Devendorf (The National) and Aaron Arntz (Beirut, Grizzly Bear), as well as his own solo songwriting project LANZ.