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Ben Kono

Since moving to New York City in 1999, woodwind performer and saxophonist Ben Kono has been attracting attention as a singular emerging voice in cutting-edge groups like Darcy James Argue's Secret Society and the John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble. Now, with the release of his debut recording CROSSING on Nineteen-Eight Records, he has come into his own light as a leader and composer of note. While growing up in bucolic southern Vermont, a deep love of classical music was fostered by his parent's strong advocacy of the arts and spurred on by a community rich in culture, live music, and arts awareness. Local jazz guitar legend and educator Atilla Zoller awakened in Ben an intense interest in jazz, emboldening him to continue studies at the Eastman School of Music and the University of North Texas. During this time he met future musical pioneers John Hollenbeck, Henry Hey, and Rudresh Mahanthappa, and studied with jazz greats David Liebman, Jerry Bergonzi, Bill Dobbins and Gary Cambell. Following a five year hitch with the U.S.Army's Jazz Ambassadors, Kono's broad musical training and experience naturally led him to the infinitely varied musical landscape of New York City. Equally skilled on oboe, english horn, flutes, clarinets and saxophones, his wide range of skills and prowess as an improviser quickly garnered high demand as a sideman. He has performed and recorded with, among many others, Michael Brecker, David Liebman, Bob Berg, Toots Thielmanns, Michel LeGrand, Tim Garland, Joe Locke, Andrew Rathbun, Manuel Valera and David Taylor; with superstars Patti Austin, Deborah Gibson, Hugh Jackman and Liza Minelli; and is a member of the John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble, the Ed Palermo Big Band, Gotham Winds, Numinous, the BMI Jazz Composers Orchestra, the Jamie Begian Big Band, Newyorkestra, Sound Assembly, and the Jersey Boys Orchestra on Broadway. The eloquent sounds of his woodwinds have graced the stages of Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, and he can often be heard tearing up a solo at elite jazz venues like the Blue Note, the Jazz Standard, Birdland, and Le Poisson Rouge.

'Crossing'

The broader a bandleader’s tonal palette, the richer the music becomes. Ben Kono proves this numerous times on the colorful Crossing, a sublime ensemble disc that finds lots of unique territory being investigated. The respected New York saxophonist is expert in an array of instruments that stretches from oboe to shakuhachi, and he’s put some deep composing and arranging skills into play on his debut. As Crossing’s varied interests present themselves, its sextet music speaks to both the power of scope and the art of integration. “I never wanted to record a straight-ahead small group thing,” explains the 43-year-old bandleader. “My tastes have strayed away from that, and more towards contemporary classical sounds. I’m absorbing music that’s been informed by jazz, the Bang On A Can composers, and what might be called post-classical work. It’s a different kind of sound.” What Kono’s describing can be heard in the buoyant bounce of “Rice,” the pensive elan of “Shadowdance,” and the dramatic reflections of “The Crossing.” Two decades ago, someone would have deemed this “third stream.” At various points, Kono’s flute, English horn, bass clarinet all help stir the group’s graceful maneuvers towards something quite singular. Working with some of the city’s most expressive jazz musicians gives the action an exceptional slant as well. Pianist Henry Hey, guitarist Pete McCann, bassist John Hébert, and drummer John Hollenbeck form the core team; Kono’s wife, singer and French horn player Heather Laws, appears on a few tracks, too. The saxophonist has had longstanding relationships with his work mates, and says that the notion of family is the thread that connects several of the disc’s pieces.

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"An overpoweringly great record!"—Bill Milkowski/Jazz Times

Kono's prowess on the saxophone has been described as "…vigorous…" (Doug Simpson/Audiophile Audition 2009), "…outstanding…" (Bill Milkowski/Jazz Times 2009), "…spirited…" (David Adler/AllAboutJazz May 2009), and "…edgy…" (Joseph Taylor/SoundstageAV.com).

On MoJa Radio, the Ben Kono Group CD CROSSING was recently reviewed as a "very inventive new work".

And, in Lucid Culture, 2009, "…Ben Kono's wildly offhand, "gotta run" tenor solo clearly late for the train and ably making up for lost time."

Primary Instrument

Saxophone

Location

New York City

Willing to teach

Intermediate to advanced

Credentials/Background

University of North Texas, teaching fellow Morgan State University, woodwinds Queens College, CPSM faculty Queens College Summer Jazz Camp, ensembles and classes Rye Country Day School, faculty Packer Collegiate, faculty Clinician for U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors

Clinic/Workshop Information

Clinics for all woodwinds including oboe and english horn, jazz improvisation for all instrumentalists.

Photos

Concerts

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Open Spaces

Cellar Music
2023

buy

Holidays

Sunnyside Records
2023

buy

The New Day Bends...

Self Produced
2023

buy

The Pan American...

Angel Face Records
2022

buy

Daring Mind

Motéma Music
2021

buy

America at War

Sunnyside Records
2021

buy

Shenandoah

From: Open Spaces
By Ben Kono

Revived Mind

From: Daring Mind
By Ben Kono

Compelled

From: Hiding Out
By Ben Kono

Two Islands III

From: Atwood Suites
By Ben Kono

Videos

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