Welcome!
Currently residing in Rochester, NY, where he is a doctoral student at the Eastman School of Music, Ben has a warm, lyrical guitar style, most reminiscent of the classic stylists of the 1950s and 1960s. Currently a student of guitarist Bob Sneider, Ben has also had the opportunity to study under many notable jazz musicians including Don Thompson, Kelly Jefferson, Reg Schwager, Peter Bernstein and Grant Stewart. Recent performances include a warmly received concert featuring one of jazz’s most unique and legendary alto saxophonists, Lee Konitz, along with pianist Harold Danko, in a sextet assembled to pay homage to the recently deceased jazz composer/theorist, George Russell. During 2009 Ben was the guitarist with the Dave Rivello New Jazz Ensemble, winner of the Downbeat Magazine 2009 Student Jazz Award for best big band. Most recently Ben has been collaborating with fellow Eastman student pianist/organist, Jeff McLeod, in a variety of musical contexts.