Home » Jazz Articles » Play This! » Ben Monder: Hydra

Ben Monder: Hydra

By Mike Jacobs
July 22, 2024
View read count

Stylistically hard-to-describe artists are nothing new. However, with Ben Monder's solo excursions, one often feels the need to issue a warning/disclaimer that might read something like, "Caution—Exiting Known Musical Universe." The 24-minute title track from his album Hydra (Sunnyside, 2013) indeed melds techniques and generic signposts from jazz, rock, medieval and modern classical music, but it may be the harmonic space that dominates Monder's vision that is most remarkable—a mysterious zone the eschews nearly all familiar harmony without wallowing in outright dissonance. Not all ears take to it but those with a taste for the exploratory may just plant their flags on Monder's planet.

FOLLOW Mike Jacobs and get notified whenever a new article published.
Mike Jacobs is a serious music addict, writer and a composing/occasionally-performing musician.

About Ben Monder

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Infinite Connections
< Previous

Homing
Next >

Ben Monder Concerts

Nov 28 Sat

Ben Monder Trio

Brvsh Cul7ur3
Teaneck, NJ

Tickets

Become a Sustaining Member

Since 1995, All About Jazz has championed jazz as an art form and supported the musicians who create it. Over three decades, it has grown into one of the world's leading jazz resources, serving hundreds of thousands of readers, musicians, presenters and industry professionals each month.

Help Build the Future of All About Jazz

Your support helps us continue building All About Jazz for the next generation—expanding our editorial coverage, preserving jazz history, developing new community features and creating better ways to discover the music and the people behind it.

Become a sustaining member for as little as $20 per year and you'll immediately enjoy an ad-free experience along with access to subscriber features and future articles for a full year.

Together, we're not simply sustaining All About Jazz—we're building its future. Thank you for being part of the journey.