Ben Allison
Tale vena lirica, che caratterizza molte delle composizioni del contrabbassista, sa inoltre trarre ulteriore linfa da più fonti, dal rock al folklore all’accademia del XX secolo, conferendo una dimensione peculiarmente immaginifica alla produzione dell’autore.
A capo di compagini quali The Ben Allison Band, Think Free, The Easy Way Trio, Peace Pipe e Medicin Wheel, Allison ha presentato i propri progetti in tutto il mondo e nelle più prestigiose sale concertistiche, ottenendo un vasto consenso critico e di pubblico che ha premiato in modo particolare l’originalità di una proposta musicale che sa far dialogare tradizione e innovazione con superbi risultati sonori. Allison ha collaborato con artisti quali l’oudista Ara Dinjikian, Mamadou Diabate, Lee Konitz, Joe Lovano, Gregory Hines, ed ha partecipato alla realizzazione di oltre cinquanta cd di varî artisti, oltre a scrivere musiche per lavori teatrali e televisivi.
Notevolissime sono le molte incisioni a suo nome: Layers of the City (2017, Sonic Camera Records), Quiet Revolution (2016, Newvelle Records), The Stars Look Very Different Today (2013, Sonic Camera Records) e Action-Refraction (2011), Think Free (2009), Little Things Run the World (2008), Cowboy Justice (2006), Buzz (2004), Peace Pipe (2002), Riding the Nuclear Tiger (2001), Third Eye (1999), Medicine Wheel (1998) e Seven Arrows (1996). A tale intensa attività artistica, Allison affianca un forte impegno come docente e pedagogo oltre a battersi a favore delle associazioni di musicisti: a tal proposito si ricorda il suo ruolo come consulente della Doris Duke Foundation e come promotore, per la stessa fondazione, del programma “Chamber Music America’s New Works – Creation and Presentation”.
Allison è attualmente presidente della sezione newyorkese della Recording Academy; il suo interesse per un impegno civico è di vecchia data: all’età di venticinque anni, infatti, aveva già fondato il Jazz Composers Collective, una organizzazione non-profit, gestita da musicisti, il cui scopo era sviluppare un contesto in cui ogni artista potesse dedicarsi alla propria creatività attraverso l’articolazione e l’esplorazione di nuove musiche. Come direttore artistico e compositore in residenza del Collective, Allison ha prodotto o co-prodotto oltre un centinaio di incisioni, oltre a organizzare numerosi eventi e concerti.
Progetti
Ben Allison Band
Ben Allison – bass / Steve Cardenas – guitar / Brandon Seabrook – guitar, banjo / Allison Miller – drums
‘When people say that the frame of jazz is flexible enough to admit pretty much anything, they might be thinking of bandleaders like the bassist Ben Allison.’ – NY Times
Called “one of today’s best young jazz musicians” by the Boston Globe and a “visionary composer, adventurous improviser, and strong organizational force on the New York City jazz scene” by JazzTimes, Ben has released 11 albums — The Stars Look Very Different Today (2013, Sonic Camera Records) and Action-Refraction (2011), Think Free (2009), Little Things Run the World (2008), Cowboy Justice (2006), Buzz (2004), Peace Pipe (2002), Riding the Nuclear Tiger (2001), Third Eye (1999), Medicine Wheel (1998) and Seven Arrows (1996) on Palmetto Records — all of which showcase Ben’s forward-thinking vision as a bassist, composer, arranger, producer, and mixing engineer, as well as his hands-on approach to his craft.
easy way trio
Ben Allison – bass / Ted Nash – saxophone, clarinet / Steve Cardenas – guitar
Bassist/composer Ben Allison, one of a few bandleaders working in jazz today who has developed his own instantly identifiable sound, celebrates the release of a new recording, “Quiet Revolution.” Known for his inspired arrangements, inventive grooves and hummable melodies, Ben draws from the jazz tradition and a range of influences from rock and folk to 20th century classical and world music, seamlessly blending them into a cinematic, cohesive whole. For this special project, Allison teams up with two leading lights of the NYC music scene, guitarist Steve Cardenas and saxophonist/clarinetist Ted Nash to form a group modeled after the drummer-less trios of Jimmy Giuffre and Jim Hall. The material includes tunes by Jim and Jimmy, as well as originals inspired by their music. It’s conversational and intimate—small-group interplay at it’s best.
Ben Allison & think free
Ben Allison – bass / Jeremy Pelt – trumpet / Steve Cardenas – guitar / Rudy Royston – drums
‘Whenever some fool goes on about the death of jazz, play that misguided soul some of the latest album from New York bassist Ben Allison.’ – Los Angeles Times
7 of Ben’s albums have reached #1 on the CMJ national jazz radio charts, often remaining in the top 10 for many weeks, garnering him 8 SESAC National Performance Awards. His album Action-Refraction was named one of the Best Albums of 2011 (of any genre) by NPR and Time Out New York. His albums have consistently been named as among the best of the year by publications such as Billboard, The New York Times, The Boston Globe, The Village Voice, Jazz Times, Jazz Journalists Association, Downbeat Critics Poll, All About Jazz, Coda (Canada), Jazzit (Italy) and Jazz Review (UK), among many others.