Ben Allison releases Cowboy Justice on Palmetto Records

New York, NY - “A brilliant double bassist, whose virtuosity is matched by his wayward imagination, Ben Allison is at the forefront of New York's most exciting music." (Jazzwise, UK).

On April 18, 2006, Palmetto Records will release Cowboy Justice, Ben's most forward thinking album to date. Featuring a new quartet with Steve Cardenas, (guitar), Ron Horton (trumpet), and Jeff Ballard (drums), eight original tunes and one cover, Cowboy Justice marks a new direction for this prolific and ever-evolving composer and band leader.

Ben says: “Group communication, an interdependence of sound, happy accidents that are used to musical advantage by inventive minds, the joy of taking risks, the thrill of the unexpected and the restlessness of the creative spiritall of these things are celebrated in modern jazz, by the people who make it and listen to it. It is American music. It is world music. We make it because it feels natural to do so. It's a complex expression of simple ideas. It's a reminder of why America is a great idea. It's a reflection of this country the way I see it and of its place in the world, not of how it's been recast."

Tracks are “Tricky Dick," “Talking Heads," “Hey Man," “Emergency," “Midnight Cowboy," “Tricky Rides Again," “Weazy," “Ruby's Roundabout" and “Blabbermouth." All compositions are originals by Ben Allison with the exception of “Midnight Cowboy," by John Barry.

DownBeat Magazine cited Ben as one of the “25 rising jazz stars for the future." He was also featured in the “Bassist of the Year," “Album of the Year," “Composer of the Year," “Acoustic Group of the Year," “Arranger of the Year," and “Jazz Artist of the Year," Rising Star categories of the 2003, 2004, and 2005 Downbeat Critics' Poll.

Ben's five previous releases on Palmetto - Buzz (2004), Peace Pipe (2002), Riding the Nuclear Tiger (2001), Third Eye (1999) and Medicine Wheel (1998) - showcase Ben's original compositions as well as his amazing skills as a composer, arranger and bassist. NPR describes Ben's group as “A band that knows exactly what it is doing at all times. Allison's compositions are complex yet slyly surprising - you don't realize exactly how catchy they are until you find yourself humming them." Cowboy Justice promises to be no exception, as its selections explore the influence of rock.

Ben has toured extensively throughout the US, Canada, and Europe, winning fans and building new audiences with an adventurous yet accessible sound and a flair for the unexpected. The Boston Globe ranks Ben Allison “among today's best young jazz musicians - Dave Douglas, Don Byron, James Carter, Jason Moran, Ben Allison."

About Ben Allison
Cited by Downbeat magazine as one of the “25 rising jazz stars for the future" and in the “Bassist of the Year," “Album of the Year," “Composer of the Year," “Acoustic Group of the Year," “Arranger of the Year," and “Jazz Artist of the Year," Rising Star categories of the 2003, 2004, and 2005 Downbeat Critics' Poll, as well as in the “Bassist of the Year" category of the 2005 Downbeat Readers' Poll, bassist-composer Ben Allison has solidified his reputation as “one of the most original voices in modern jazz" (Amazon.com), a strong organizational force on the New York City music scene, and an advocate for artist empowerment.

With his groups Peace Pipe, Ben Allison Quartet, Medicine Wheel, the Kush Trio, and the Herbie Nichols Project (which he co-leads with pianist Frank Kimbrough) Ben has toured extensively throughout the US, Canada, Europe, and Brazil winning fans and building new audiences with an adventurous yet accessible sound and a flair for the unexpected.

His six recordings as a leader - Buzz (2004), Peace Pipe (2002), Riding the Nuclear Tiger (2001), Third Eye (1999), and Medicine Wheel (1998) on Palmetto Records, and his 1996 debut Seven Arrows on the Koch Jazz label - showcase Ben's forward-thinking vision as a producer, composer, arranger, and bassist, and his hands-on approach to his craft.

Buzz, was #1 on the CMJ National Jazz radio charts for 6 consecutive weeks and has remained in the top 20 for over five months. His previous three albums, achieved similar radio success, being among the most played albums of the years in which they were released. and have been named as among the best of the year by publications such as The New York Times, The Boston Globe, The Village Voice, Jazz Times, Jazz Journalists Association,Downbeat Critics Poll, All About Jazz, Coda (Canada), and Jazz Review (UK), among others.

At the age of twenty-five, he formed the Jazz Composers Collective a musician-run, non-profit organization based in New York City that is dedicated to constructing an environment where artists can exercise their ideals of creating and risking through the development and exploration of new music. As the Artistic Director and a Composer-in-Residence of the Jazz Composers Collective, Ben has produced or co-produced over 100 concerts and special events, including the Collective's annual concert series (which ran for eleven seasons), national and international tours by Collective artists, an on-going Collective residency at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA, NYC), and an annual “Jazz Composers Collective Festival" at the Jazz Standard which has drawn international attention as a mainstay of New York City's musical life. As a member of the Collective

Ben has received commissioning, performing, and recording grants from Chamber Music America, the Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Aaron Copland Foundation, Meet the Composer, and the American Composers Forum.

Along with pianist Frank Kimbrough, Ben co-leads the Herbie Nichols Project, a performing and researching entity premiered by the Jazz Composers Collective in 1994, dedicated to the music of the brilliant pianist-composer. The group has recorded three CDs, Strange City (Palmetto Records, 2001), and Dr. Cyclops' Dream and Love Is Proximity (both on Soul Note Records, 1999 and 1997). Strange City topped the jazz radio charts (CMJ) peaking at #1, and was picked as “Best Album" in the 2002 Downbeat Critics' Poll. The group was also chosen as “Best Acoustic Group" and “Best Acoustic Group - TDWR" in the same poll.

Born in 1966 in New Haven, Connecticut, Ben has performed the world over with musicians ranging from oudist Ara Dinkjian to saxophonist Lee Konitz to legendary performance artist Joey Arias. He has appeared on over 25 albums by various artists and has written music for film, national television and radio, including the theme for the National Public Radio (NPR) show “On the Media" and the score for Two Days, a play written by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Donald Margulies.

Palmetto Records has been an independent leading voice in music since it was founded in 1990. Through its choice of innovative artists and careful attention to sonic value, it has emerged as a heavyweight world-renowned label, being listed as one of the best jazz labels for four years running in the Down Beat Critics' Poll and being voted Jazz Label of The Year in 2005 by the Jazz Journalists Association and JazzWeek. Its original mission of enabling artists to fulfill their creative visions has remained the label's focus more than 14 years and 120 releases later. According to Palmetto founder and producer, Matt Balitsaris, the label has succeeded so well because it makes music that matters to the artist and to the audience. Palmetto also supports artists who are often overlooked or are considered somewhat “left of center". This enables the label to help expand the boundaries and even the vocabulary of jazz, and also gives the artists the freedom they need to make great music. Palmetto truly believes the future of jazz is now.