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Ben Goldberg

Clarinetist / Composer Ben Goldberg grew up in Denver, Colorado. He received his undergraduate music degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz and a Master of Arts in Composition from Mills College. He was a pupil of the eminent clarinetist Rosario Mazzeo, and studied with Steve Lacy and Joe Lovano.

In addition to composing for and playing in the Ben Goldberg Quintet, he currently performs in the following groups: Tin Hat; plays monk, a trio with Scott Amendola and Devin Hoff; Myra Melford’s Be Bread; Nels Cline’s New Monastery; and Go Home, a new quartet with Charlie Hunter, Ron Miles, and Scott Amendola.

The 11- piece Ben Goldberg's Brainchild performs Ben's on-the-spot compositions. Ben’s group New Klezmer Trio "kicked open the door for radical experiments with Ashkenazi roots music." (San Francisco Chronicle) Their CD Masks and Faces was listed as one of the ten best recordings of 1992 by Cadence magazine, which called it "great free improvisation." The group made two more cds, Melt Zonk Rewire and Short for Something (all on Tzadik).

Ben's other recordings include the door, the hat, the chair, the fact (Cryptogramophone), a record of compositions dedicated to Steve Lacy; The Sad Machinery of Spring (Rykodisc) with Tin Hat; Plays Monk (Long Song) with Amendola and Hoff; Nels Cline’s New Monastery: a view into the music of Andrew Hill (Cryptogramophone); Light at the Crossroads (Songlines) with Marty Ehrlich; two records by Junk Genius (with John Schott, Trevor Dunn, and Wollesen): Junk Genius (Knitting Factory Works), an examination of bebop, and Ghost of Electricity (Songlines), dealing with American folk music; and What Comes Before (Tzadik), reflections on post-tonal harmonic structures with John Schott and Michael Sarin.

Ben’s upcoming releases include a quintet recording of recent compositions featuring Joshua Redman and Ron Miles, and the initial record by the group Go Home. In 2007 Ben was awarded a grant from the Aaron Copland Fund for Music to produce the next recording by his quintet. Also in 2007 a commission from the de Young Museum of Art in San Francisco resulted in Line and Breath, a composition for quintet inspired by the work of Marsden Hartley.

In 1993 Ben received a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to present a series featuring the work of important American composers, allowing him to work with Andrew Hill and Bobby Bradford in concerts of their compositions, as well as presenting the music of Steve Lacy, Herbie Nichols, and Thelonious Monk.

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Album Review

Todd Sickafoose: Bear Proof

Read "Bear Proof" reviewed by Vic Albani


Era dai fasti di Tiny Resistors (uscito nel 2008 per la Cryptogramophone dell'amico Jeff Gauthier e che invitiamo a riascoltare per la bellezza che lo ammanta) che il signor Todd Sickafoose non regalava al mondo un nuovo lavoro. Inneggiato da più voci quale coerente ed intelligentissimo musicista nonché compositore e produttore Sickafoose è stato talmente occupato da non avere avuto tempo per dilettarsi ancora una volta con l'idea che lo ha subito posto all'attenzione del mondo musicale sin ...

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Radio & Podcasts

Ben Goldberg, Patricia Barber, Rachel Eckroth and Others

Read "Ben Goldberg, Patricia Barber, Rachel Eckroth and Others" reviewed by Jerome Wilson


This eclectic show features guitar, voice, and much more. Musicians heard on the program include Ben Goldberg, Patricia Barber, Michael Musillami, Rachel Eckroth, and Jason Kao Hwang. Playlist Henry Threadgill Sextett “I Can't Wait Till I Get Home" from The Complete Novus & Columbia Recordings of Henry Threadgill & Air (Mosaic) 00:00 Rachel Eckroth “Under A Fig Tree" from The Garden (Rainy Days) 00:52 Jeff Denson Quartet “Once The Door Opens" from Concentric Circles (Ridgeway) 7:07 Host Speaks ...

Album Review

The Angelica Sanchez Nonet: Nighttime Creatures

Read "Nighttime Creatures" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi


Pubblicato dalla Pyroclastic Records, Nighttime Creatures è il magistrale debutto del nonet della pianista Angelica Sanchez, organico che riunisce alcuni protagonisti della scene musicali di New York, Los Angeles e San Francisco: i sassofonisti Chris Speed e Michael Attias, il clarinettista Ben Goldberg, il cornettista Kenny Warren, il trombettista Thomas Heberer, il chitarrista Omar Tamez, il contrabbassista John Hébert e il batterista Sam Ospovat. Trasferitasi nel 1994 a New York da Phoenix (Arizona), Angelica è parte dell'Exploding ...

12
Album Review

Todd Sickafoose: Bear Proof

Read "Bear Proof" reviewed by Jerome Wilson


Bassist Todd Sickafoose released only one album as a leader prior to this one, Tiny Resistors, (Cryptogramophone, 2008). However, he has kept busy in the music world since then. He has extensively worked as a sideman and producer, including collaborating with singer-songwriter Ani DiFranco, and he has orchestrated the Broadway musical, “Hadestown," winning a Tony award in the process. Now he is back with an album that reaffirms him as one of those musicians who are ostensibly based in jazz ...

3
Album Review

Ben Goldberg: Everything Happens To Be.

Read "Everything Happens To Be." reviewed by Jerome Wilson


If you do not listen too closely, there are parts of this download-only release that sound soothing and gentle. That is not really the case and that is the fun part of this music. When the reed players play a pretty or swinging melody line, there is always some irritant factor elsewhere in the band to spice things up. All of these musicians are known for their experimental tendencies and have worked together before in various combinations. The ...

10
Album Review

Ben Goldberg: Everything Happens To Be.

Read "Everything Happens To Be." reviewed by John Chacona


The music of Ben Goldberg seems to come from a place outside of time--or maybe it comes from several times simultaneously. Maybe it's the instruments he chooses; while the clarinet family has been on the comeback trail in jazz for a quarter century, it's a sound that invariably invokes the New Orleans of a century ago. That's especially true when Goldberg picks up the mellow, woody, Albert-system E-flat instrument on “Cold Weather." That tune's sweet melancholy wobbles perilously close to ...

4
Album Review

Vijay Anderson Trio: Studio Sessions Vol. 10

Read "Studio Sessions Vol. 10" reviewed by John Sharpe


Brooklyn-based Californian drummer Vijay Anderson leads an impressively cohesive trio on Studio Sessions Vol .10. In this case cohesion is a product of shared experience. Anderson's career has been intertwined with bassist Adam Lane's since 2003, and can be heard on Zero Degree Music (CIMP, 2005), New Magical Kingdom (Clean Feed, 2006),and Absolute Horizon (NoBusiness, 2013). Likewise, clarinetist Ben Goldberg has been a long-time colleague of the drummer, as evidenced by his appearances on Hard-Boiled Wonderland (Not Two, 2010) and ...

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Recording

Ben Goldberg Quintet - The Door, the Hat, the Chair, the Fact (2006)

Ben Goldberg Quintet - The Door, the Hat, the Chair, the Fact (2006)

Source: Something Else!

By Mark Saleski Too bad that the clarinet was the instrument guys were embarrassed to be stuck with in band. None of those kids ever got to hear what musicians like Steve Lacy (yes, I know, soprano sax. Close enough), Don Byron or Ben Goldberg could do with it. Goldberg, a member of the group Tin Hat (formerly the Tin Hat Trio, they of off-kilter chamberisms and surprising Tom Waits guest vocals), brings Tin Hat violinist Carla Kihlstedt together with ...

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Interview

Clarinetist Ben Goldberg Interviewed at AAJ

Clarinetist Ben Goldberg Interviewed at AAJ

Source: All About Jazz

The diversity of clarinetist Ben Goldberg's musical interests may only be matched by the intensity of his study. He grew up on The Beatles and classic jazz, started playing Klezmer music at the University of California, Berkeley in the early '80s, and studied with renowned classical clarinet teacher Rossario Mazzeo. In 1984, he became the clarinetist for The Klezmorim, touring throughout the U.S. and Europe, where he also met and learned from the legendary soprano saxophonist Steve Lacy. In 1987, ...

171

Recording

Ben Goldberg Announces Release of Go Home CD on New Label

Ben Goldberg Announces Release of Go Home CD on New Label

Source: Michael Ricci

Debut CD by Go Home Ben Goldberg - Charlie Hunter - Scott Amendola - Ron Miles BAG Production BAG 001 “The band creates music that is cozy and spacious, pungent and perfumed, virtuosic, sophisticated and pleasingly raw." -- The Boston Globe “A searching ensemble that welcomes lyrical improvisation while embracing the groove." --The New Yorker “Go Home speaks to a fascinating creative journey that has taken Goldberg from the esoteric realms of the avant-garde to the simple pleasures of syncopation ...

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Performance / Tour

Go Home: With Ben Goldberg and Charlie Hunter @ Chris' Jazz Cafe

Go Home: With  Ben Goldberg and Charlie Hunter @ Chris' Jazz Cafe

Source: All About Jazz

GO HOME brings together a unique group of players. Performing Goldberg's unique compositions finds Charlie Hunter and Scott Amendola's rootsy, hard-driving grooves and the astute, lyrical interplay of Curtis Fowlkes and Goldberg. Spacious melody and an incisive feel combine to create a unique and compelling sound. The musical results are documented on the CD, GO HOME, available in October, 2009.

GO HOME Ben Goldberg - clarinet Charlie Hunter - seven string guitar Curtis Fowlkes ...

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Performance / Tour

Go Home: Ben Goldberg, Charlie Hunter, Scott Amendola, Curtis Fowlkes October Northeast Tour

Go Home: Ben Goldberg, Charlie Hunter, Scott Amendola, Curtis Fowlkes October Northeast Tour

Source: Marshall Lamm Promotions & Public Relations

GO HOME Northeast Tour Ben Goldberg - clarinet Charlie Hunter - seven string guitar Curtis Fowlkes - trombone Scott Amendola - drums GO HOME brings together a unique group of players. Performing Goldberg's unique compositions finds Charlie Hunter and Scott Amendola's rootsy, hard-driving grooves and the astute, lyrical interplay of Curtis Fowlkes and Goldberg. Spacious melody and an incisive feel combine to create a unique and compelling sound. ...

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Performance / Tour

Philadelphia's Ars Nova Workshop presents the Ben Goldberg Quintet with Carla Kihlstedt + the Paul Dunmall Trio

Philadelphia's Ars Nova Workshop presents the Ben Goldberg Quintet with Carla Kihlstedt + the Paul Dunmall Trio

Source: All About Jazz

On December 6, 2006, The Ars Nova Workshop presents a double bill featuring the Ben Goldberg Quintet w/Carla Kihlstedt & the Paul Dunmall Trio.

BEN GOLDBERG QUINTET Ben Goldberg - clarinet Rob Sudduth - tenor saxophone Carla Kihlstedt - violin Trevor Dunn - bass Ches Smith - drums +

DUNMALL/ROGERS/LEVIN Paul Dunmall - tenor saxophone Tony Levin - drums Paul Rogers - ...

Joan Hutton
saxophone

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Bear Proof

Secret Hatch Records
2023

buy

Nighttime Creatures

Pyroclastic Records
2023

buy

Rivers In Our Veins

Royal Potato Family
2023

buy

Everything Happens To...

BAG Production
2021

buy

General Semantics

Delmark Records
2020

buy

Hudson

From: Rivers In Our Veins
By Ben Goldberg

Nighttime Creatures

From: Nighttime Creatures
By Ben Goldberg

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