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Ben Paterson

Originally from Philadelphia, Ben spent his younger years studying both classical and jazz music before moving to the great city of Chicago. There he spent years performing and working with the best musicians in town, absorbing the unique blend of Jazz and Blues that can only be found in the Windy City. Now, moving to New York, Ben is poised to bring his unique talents and style to a wider audience, combining hard-swinging grooves and melodic improvisation with an impeccable touch.

Starting in 2005, Ben was honored to work as pianist for NEA jazz master Von Freeman, performing with him regularly until Von’s passing in August 2012. In addition to regular club dates around town, Ben’s work with Von included performances at the Chicago Jazz Fest, Symphony Center, Millenium Park, The Jazz Showcase, and The Green Mill.

Under his own name, Ben has performed at the Chicago Jazz Festival as both a solo pianist and with his Organ Quartet, led his own groups at dozens of venues including Smalls Jazz Club, Kitano Jazz, and the Zinc Bar in NYC, and headline performances at the Green Mill and Andy’s Jazz Clubs in Chicago.

Notable collaborations include work Von Freeman, Bobby Broom, Johnny O’Neal, Red Holloway, Eldee young, Jerry Weldon, Guy King, Ed Cherry, Brianna Thomas, Gregory Generet, Dave Specter, Jason Marshall, Henry Johnson, Corey Wilkes, Milton Suggs, Ernest Dawkins, Marianne Solivan, Patience Higgens, Myron Waldon, Kimberly Gordon, Martina DaSilva, JC Styles, Svetlana’s Delancey 5, Adam Rongo, and many others.

Notable performances include opening for acts including B.B. King, Buddy Guy, and Steely Dan, the 2010 Montreal Jazz Fest, the 2006, 2009, and 2013 Chicago Jazz Fests, the 2007, 2008, and 2011 Chicago Blues Fests, as well as shows in France, China, Switzerland, Mexico, Sweden, and Taiwan.

Ben currently has 3 piano discs out: Breathing Space (OA2 Records 2007) Blues For Oscar (Meetinghouse Records 2012), and Essential Elements (MAXJAZZ 2013) Keep an eye out for his debut Organ record scheduled for release in Summer of 2015.

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Album Review

Samara Joy: Linger Awhile [Deluxe Edition]

Read "Linger Awhile [Deluxe Edition]" reviewed by Dave Linn


Samara Joy's meteoric rise since graduating from High School has been well documented. As a college junior, she filmed herself singing Ella Fitzgerald's “Take Love Easy" accompanied by one of her professors, pianist Pete Malinverni. The video went viral, garnering over one million views. She then put up a GoFundMe page, quickly reaching the $8,000 goal to record her debut album Samara Joy (Whirlwind, 2021). A year later, Verve Records announced her signing and the release of her label debut ...

4
Album Review

Naama Gheber: If I Knew Then

Read "If I Knew Then" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey


New York City-based vocalist Naama Gheber released her debut recording, Dearly Beloved (Cellar Music) in 2020, just before the global COVID-19 pandemic. With live entertainment brought to a halt, Gheber found herself with time on her hands and no way to promote her considerable talent in live performance. Israeli by birth, Gheber was an enfant terrible who ascended quickly professionally. After being trained at the Center for Jazz Studies in Tel Aviv, Gheber was accepted into the jazz program at ...

Album Review

Samara Joy: Linger Awhile

Read "Linger Awhile" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi


Recensendo pochi mesi fa il disco d'esordio di Samara Joy le avevamo previsto un brillante futuro ma non pensavamo accadesse in tempi così rapidi. Reduce del successo ottenuto all'ultimo Umbria Jazz, la 22enne la vocalist afro-americana debutta ora con l'etichetta Verve e sarà impegnata in un tour fitto di date fino a dicembre (in ottobre toccherà anche Portogallo, Spagna, Francia e Germania ma non l'Italia). In Linger Awhile continua il sodalizio col notevole chitarrista ...

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Album Review

Naama Gheber: The Very Thought of You

Read "The Very Thought of You" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey


Naama Gheber closes her 2022 summer season of singles releases with Ray Noble's 1934 composition, “The Very Thought Of You." The song was first recorded by Ray Noble and His Orchestra with Al Bowlly on vocals for HMV in England in April, closely followed by Bing Crosby's performance that same year and enjoying many revivals since then. The spring and summer of 2022 saw Gheber releasing, “Old Mother Hubbard," “I'm A Fool To Want You," “You're Driving Me Crazy," and ...

4
Album Review

Naama Gheber: Dream Dancing

Read "Dream Dancing" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey


Vocalist Naama Gheber released her debut recording Dearly Beloved (Cellar Live, 2020) immediately before the pandemic. In spite of this interruption in the traditional marketing of music, the recording received much positive attention within the All About Jazz community and other outlets. Since the easing of restrictions, Gheber has turned things upside down by releasing as singles her entire upcoming EP If I Knew Then, slated for the street in November. Gheber has already released, “Old Mother Hubbard" ...

4
Album Review

Naama Gheber: You're Driving Me Crazy

Read "You're Driving Me Crazy" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey


Vocalist Naama Gheber continues to release singles from her upcoming recording, If I Knew Then, presently due to drop in November 2022. She has previously released the singles “Old Mother Hubbard" and I'm A Fool To Want You. Staying in the same orbit with The Great American Songbook, Gheber affords us the 1930 Walter Donaldson composition, “You're Driving Me Crazy." This song has been a popular feature in film, finding its way into cartoons featuring Betty Boop, Silly ...

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Album Review

Naama Gheber: I’m A Fool To Want You

Read "I’m A Fool To Want You" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey


Vocalist Naama Gheber is applying a different paradigm to the release of her second recording, the EP If I Knew Then, presently due for release in November 2022. She previously released the single “Old Mother Hubbard" and now follows it with a starkly fashioned “I'm A Fool To Want You." Gheber released her debut recording Dearly Beloved (Cellar Live) in early 2020. It received considerable attention within All About Jazz and other outlets. The talent revealed rivals that of Veronica ...

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Video / DVD

Videos: Ben Paterson

Videos: Ben Paterson

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

Unfamiliar with Ben Paterson? Stick a pair of glasses on him and he'll remind you of Bill Evans, circa 1958—but in much better shape. As for his playing, Paterson is extraordinary on both the piano and the Hammond organ. And he can sing! The other day, my friend Jimi Mentis emailed me YouTube links. When Jimi emails, I always stop what I'm doing. Here are the Paterson clips he sent along... Here's Ben Paterson on piano, playing and singing I ...

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Performance / Tour

The Nu Jazz Agency Announces The Inaugural Performance Of The Winners Of The 2018 Ellis Marsalis International Jazz Piano Competition In NYC On January 14, 2019 At Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola

The Nu Jazz Agency Announces The Inaugural Performance Of The Winners Of The 2018 Ellis Marsalis International Jazz Piano Competition In NYC On January 14, 2019 At Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola

Source: Nu Jazz Publicity

The Nu Jazz Agency, a leader in the non-profit musical arts industry, has announced the inaugural performance in the 2019 season of the winners of the 2018 Ellis Marsalis International Jazz Piano Competition held this past June in Huntington, West Virginia. Ben Paterson (Philadelphia, PA: First Place); Rina Yamazaki (Saitama, Japan: Second Place & The Nu Jazz Agency’s Chico & Lupe O’Farrill Award for the Best Original Composition; and Isaiah Thompson (West Orange, NJ: Third Place & winner for Best ...

“As soulful an electric pianist-organist as exists anywhere.” –Frank-John Hadley, Downbeat Magazine

“His elegance, good taste, and emotional poignancy position him as one the most refreshing mainstream voices I’ve heard in recent years.” –Peter Margasak, Chicago Reader

“On first listen, you can hear why so many people on the Chicago jazz scene are singing Paterson’s praises. His playing is always where it needs to be: one minute sensitive and relaxed, at another moment, explosive and muscular, and always musical.” –Paul Abella, Chicago Jazz Magazine

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Photos

Concerts

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Jamalot Live

Steele Records
2024

buy

If I Knew Then

Sassy’s In Town
2022

buy

If I Knew Then

Sassy's In Town
2022

buy

If I knew Then

Sassy’s In Town
2022

buy

If I Knew Then

Sassy's In Town
2022

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Confirmation

From: 8.5
By Ben Paterson

Confirmation

From: 8.5
By Ben Paterson

Shade of Tree

From: Elsewhere
By Ben Paterson

I Thought You Should Know

From: Breathing Space
By Ben Paterson

Videos

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