Born: March 14, 1967 Primary Instrument: Drums
Ben Makinen - member BMI - is a performer, composer, and producer living in Denver, Colorado. He is president of Bmakin Music, a label he created to carry music from all points of the globe, regardless of genre.
Seeing Miles Davis perform live three times and then meeting the Dalai Lama in person forever changed the way Ben would approach the art of music.
He is a 2006 Independent Music Awards Finalist: Film/TV-Multimedia.
Ben is the producer of jazz album Fishleather Jacket which received the Roger Bobo Excellence In Recording Award in June of 2006.
As a drummer and percussionist, he has been touring the world as a sideman since 1985 with R&B, funk, and rock bands, jazz trios and big bands, avant-garde electronica ensembles, in Broadway shows, on international cruise ships, and with opera troupes and symphonic orchestras.
As a leader and sideman, Makinen has performed on over 20 CDs. He also leads the high- energy jazz trio AREA 15. (cdbaby.com/area15)
He has produced 5 CD's:”Rekha”; “Area 15 Live”; “Lost Lullaby”; “December”and “Fishleather Jacket”.
He is currently producing three more : “ The Goliath Beetle and the Ladybug Jam”; “Quizzical Glance”; and “The Underworld”.
Makinen maintains a busy schedule producing and performing. He recently landed a role in the zombie movie Lucky Stiff. He is currently writing music for television and film. One of his many goals for 2006 is to complete production on a documentary film he has shot.
