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Ben Flocks

Saxophonist and educator Ben Flocks captivates audiences around the world with his soulful sound. Born in Santa Cruz, California and residing in Brooklyn, Ben leads his own group and plays as a sideman in a variety of musical settings.

Currently a member of the smash-hit ensemble Sammy Miller and the Congregation, Ben and the band have received acclaim for their joyous, entertaining blend of music and theater. Ben has led his band at the Monterey Jazz Festival and the Bern Jazz Festival in Switzerland, and has had the honor to perform with Joshua Redman’s Trio, with Dave Brubeck as a Brubeck Institute Fellow and with Antonio Sanchez and Migration.

Ben holds a bachelors degree from the New School in New York and serves on faculty at the Stanford Jazz Workshop and at the Calhoun School. He leads workshops in schools around the country through Jazz at Lincoln Center and the Louis Armstrong House Museum’s educational programs, teaching all ages through interactive concerts tracing the history of jazz.

Ben proudly plays Borgani Saxophones.

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Album Review

Ben Flocks: Mask of the Muse

Read "Mask of the Muse" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi


Ogni tanto nel mondo del jazz emerge un sax tenore orientato al vintage. Predilige le ballad, che sviluppa con timbro caldo e suadente, privilegiando la bellezza melodica con malinconica seduzione. Mi vengono in mente quegli album degli anni cinquanta e sessanta con due innamorati fotografati al chiaro di luna: una musica leggera con accenti jazzistici che nell'Italia degli anni sessanta aveva in Fausto Papetti il suo alfiere. Ma oggi? Evidentemente c'è ancora un pubblico che ne apprezza il ...

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Album Review

Ben Flocks: Mask of the Muse

Read "Mask of the Muse" reviewed by Geno Thackara


It was probably inevitable that the start of the 2020's would see something of a comeback for the Roaring Twenties of the last century. You could say that puts Ben Flocks ahead of the curve for releasing this homage to mark the change of decade... well, except that it's not just rooted in the previous gilded age, and it's not of the roaring variety either. Mask of the Muse is more than a time capsule anyway. It could make a ...

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Radio & Podcasts

Deep Jazz Trip Vol. 1

Read "Deep Jazz Trip Vol. 1" reviewed by Nick Davies


In this show Nick plays lots of new music and some tracks from the archives; a new format for the podcast version of the show. Playlist Ben Flocks “Muses's Mask" from Mask of the Muse (West Cliff Records) 1:41 James Martin “Rectify" from Keep Movin' (James Martin Music) 03:59 Miguel Zenon “El Negro Bembón" from Sonero (Miel Records) 10:15 Paul Austerlitz Pilgrim “Zaka's Wedding" from Cross Winds (Round Whirled Records) 18:21 Partisans “Nit De Nit" from Nit ...

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Album Review

Ben Flocks: Battle Mountain

Read "Battle Mountain" reviewed by Vincenzo Roggero


L'ispirazione per la musica contenuta in Battle Mountain--è lo stesso Ben Flocks a rivelarlo nelle note di copertina--arriva dalla grandiosa natura delle Santa Cruz Mountains, zona incontaminata della California nella quale Oceano Pacifico, rocce granitiche, colline rigogliose danno vita ad un paesaggio affascinante e misterioso. Il secondo brano--il traditional “Shenandoah"--e “Silver City Bound" dai field song di Alan Lomax--ci forniscono ulteriori indizi sul tipo di musica proposta dal ventiquatrenne musicista ora residente a Brooklyn ma originario proprio ...

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Album Review

Ben Flocks: Battle Mountain

Read "Battle Mountain" reviewed by Glenn Astarita


California native, saxophonist Ben Flocks' compositions parallel an imaginary cross-country trek via the diverse climates he conjures with these alluring compositions. Spanning intermittent similarities to guitarist Bill Frisell's sojourns into Americana along with frothy New Orleans second line fare, spacey jazz rock, and a few quirky little ditties intermingled along the way, his debut is an impressive one, meriting considerable attention. Few artists launch their solo careers with a big bang. The album is gushing with memorable melodic content and ...

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Primary Instrument

Saxophone

Location

New York City

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Mask of the Muse

Self Produced
2019

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Battle Mountain

Self Produced
2014

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Videos

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