LehCats Story

Seven musicians who define the terms artistry, teamwork and chemistry starting with the chemistry of the married couple of Karen and Norbert Stachel, the leaders of LehCats.  Their versatility is evident, and their ability to deliver and uplift both the music and the listener is profound.

LehCats is Norbert and Karen Stachels’ last name spelled backwards.  Based in New York City, they perform original artistic and tasteful compositions that combine elements of Modern Jazz, Funk, R&B, Middle Eastern, Afro/Latin, and Rock creating a musical potpourri of creative sound. LehCats consist of Norbert Stachel, tenor and soprano sax, bass clarinet, and flute, Karen Stachel, flute, alto flute, and piccolo, Dave Solomon, guitar, Edsel Gomez, piano, John Benitez, bass, Francis Benitez, percussion, and Daniel Gonzalez on drums.



 

Norbert Stachel has toured, recorded, and performed with Tower Of Power, Flora Purim and Airto, Freddie Hubbard, Roy Hargrove, Prince, Boz Scaggs, Roger Waters, and countless others.

 

 

 

 

Karen Stachel has three released albums of as a solo artist. She works as a professional jazz and classical flutist in NYC, and prior to that, in the San Francisco Bay Area.  She can be heard on several movie soundtracks.  She is a member of the Wallace Roney Orchestra and a flutist/piccoloist with the New Amsterdam Symphony.

 

David Solomon has worked with Al Jarreau, Chubby Checker, Bobby Caldwell, Bette Middler, Neil Sedaka, Tito Puente Jr. and Broadway Shows: Grease, On Your Feet, In The Heights, Cats, Miss Saigon, and many more.

 

Pianist Edsel Gomez, 2007 Grammy award nominee is today one of the premier Latin Jazz pianists in the world.  He works with Dee Dee Bridgewater, Jack DeJohnette, and vocalist Janis Siegel, to name a few.

 

Grammy award-winning bassist John Benitez, born in Rio Piedras Puerto Rico, started playing gospel music in church at the age of thirteen.  John has played with Wynton Marsalis, Tito Puente, Michel Camilo, Dave Valentín, Eddie Palmieri, Bobby Watson, David Sánchez, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Antonio Hart, Danilo Pérez, Kenny Kirkland, Chucho Valdés, Rubén Blades, Mongo Santamaría, Caribbean Jazz Project, Mingus Big Band, Kenny Kirkland, Antonio Hart, Mongo Santamaría, Dafnis Prieto, Ravi Coltrane, and many more.

 

Percussionist Francis Benitez is a young gifted talent who has a huge heart.  He is the son of John Benitez.  He received his Masters of Music recently and performs every Sunday at church.

 

 

 

 

Drummer Daniel Gonzalez has recorded and performed with Tom Harrell, Mark Murphy, Jesse Green, Urbie Green, to name a few.