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Ben Wilcock

Ben Wilcock is a pianist and composer from Hamilton, NZ. Ben began his career as 'on stage pianist' in the award winning show The Pickle King (Indian ink) which won multiple awards including a Fringe First at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

After an extended period playing in the UK Ben returned to NZ to perform and record with Bella Kalolo, including her Without the Paper and Time and Space releases, with performances at Glastonbury, Java Jazz, Sydney Arts Festival and New York's Ella lounge and Rockwood Music Hall. During this time he also toured with Aaradnha, Louis Baker and more recently with American Blues legend Chris Cain.

His trio The Jelly Rolls have performed at Jazz festivals including the Edinburgh Jazz festival, the Wellington Jazz festival and the Tauranga Jazz festival. 2019 included a tour of Scotland.

Ben has released two albums with The Jelly Rolls - Sneaky Weasel (2014) and The Phantom Canoe (2017) as well as A short history of Jazz, the 1930s for Radio New Zealand.

In 2020 he released Goodnight T.V, a solo piano album and in 2021 he released The River Tethys on ltd edition vinyl.


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Even without knowing the background to the album's conception it's a great listen, one that harks back to the time when jazz was for dancing, with great driving rhythms and phrase constructions that make you want to move. This is good times music and you can feel it deep in your bones." --Aleisha Ward, NZ Musician

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Splendid Isolation

Thick Records
2024

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The River Tethys

Thick Records
2021

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Uncouth and Without...

Thick Records NZ
2020

buy

Goodnight T.V.

Thick Records
2020

buy

The Phantom Canoe

Thick Records
2017

buy

Sneaky Weasel

Unknown label
2014

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Sneaky Weasel

From: Sneaky Weasel
By Ben Wilcock

Videos

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