Results for "Ben Allison"

Ben Allison

Born: November 17, 1966

In a career that spans over 30 years, bassist/composer Ben Allison has developed his own instantly identifiable sound. 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 and a broad range of music from around the world, seamlessly blending them into a cinematic, cohesive whole.

With his small groups, Ben has toured extensively throughout the world building new audiences with an adventurous yet accessible sound and a flair for the unexpected.

Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Ben has performed and collaborated with an extremely diverse range of artists including oudist Ara Dinkjian, kora player Mamadou Diabate, saxophonists Lee Konitz and Joe Lovano, Cambodian chapei master Kong Nay, legendary performance artist Joey Arias, tap dancers Jimmy Slide and Gregory Hines and US Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky, to name a few. He has appeared on over 50 albums by various artists and has written music for film, television and radio, including the theme for the National Public Radio (NPR) show On the Media (which boasts a listenership of over 2,000,000 people), the score for Two Days, a play written by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Donald Margulies and the theme for The Conversation, a webcast talk show hosted by Pharrell Williams.

Triological

By Ben Allison

Label: Sunnyside Records
Released: 2026
Track listing: See Forever; Puddle Jumper; Burnt Toast & Avocado; Fellas with Umbrellas; Milton; By Heart; For Bill; Back Home; Ida's Spoons; Peace Out There.

Love Is The Whole Thing, We Are Only Pieces

By Matt Wilson

Label: Palmetto Records
Released: 2026
Track listing: Wind Spirit; Fuller Love; I Won't Back Down; Black Fire; Joonam; Anyone Who Had A Heart; Welcome Table; Green Al; Festival; Love Is The Whole Thing,We Are Only Pieces.

Cassandra Wilson: Iconic Memories - Part 3

by Ludovico Granvassu
September 18, 2026

A musical remembrance of Cassandra Wilson and a voice that made even experimental music sound sensual and tangible, and turned old tunes into something modern, when not futuristic.Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 Harriet Tubman, Cassandra Wilson “Bow Legged Man" Black Sun Live at BRIC House (BRIC ...

Skinny Hightower, Ralph Alessi, Neves E Silva, Buster Williams, Jon Madof, Rob Dixon

by Ludovico Granvassu
September 15, 2026

Lineage and traditions as springboards for new ideas, in this playlist of recent releases. Happy listening! Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 Neves E Silva “Das Neves" Ladeiras De Santa Teresa (Far Out) 0:16 Host talks 3:28 Skinny Hightower “Chain Reaction" Feels Like Destiny ...

Cassandra Wilson: Iconic Memories - Part 2

by Ludovico Granvassu
September 15, 2026

On one record, Cassandra Wilson could sound like the deepest Mississippi blues singer; on another, she could be immersed in the most advanced rhythmic ideas of M-Base; and then she could walk into an R&B session with Luther Vandross or The Roots and sound completely at home. This playlist only scratches the surface of that extraordinary ...

Cassandra Wilson: Iconic Memories - Part 1

by Ludovico Granvassu
September 14, 2026

A retrospective built around the adventurous spirit that ran through Cassandra Wilson's music, from her formative years in the M-Base orbit to her later work at the crossroads of jazz, blues, soul, R&B and beyond.Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 Cassandra Wilson “Run the VooDoo Down" Traveling ...

Henriette Eilertsen, The Plastic Waste Band, Kristijan Krajnčan, Giovanni Mirabassi & More

by Ludovico Granvassu
September 14, 2026

If jazz still has unexplored corners, here's where you'll find a few of them. Happy listening! Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 The Plastic Waste Band “Nose Prose" Trash Island (Protomaterial) 0:16 Host talks 4:58 Henriette Eilertsen Trio “Fly Ikaros" Moder (Motvind) 6:06 Yvonne ...

Phoenix Trio, Ragini Trio, Weave4, Club d'Elf, Tito Mangialajo Rantzer & More

by Ludovico Granvassu
September 12, 2026

From Indian classical music and Mediterranean roots to European improvisation, deep grooves, live vibes, electronic experimentation, and beyond. Happy listening! Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 Club d'Elf “Loon and Thrush" Loon & Thrush (Face Pelt / Royal Potato Family) 0:16 Host talks 6:49 ...

Ingeborg Gravem Sollid, Ernst Reijseger, The Olympians, Petite Lucette & More

by Ludovico Granvassu
September 2, 2026

Enjoy another playlist featuring projects where tradition gets lovingly bent, twisted, and reshaped.Happy listening!Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 The Olympians “Thunderball" In Search of a Revival (Daptone) 0:16 Host talks 4:33 La La Lars “Uggledans" Lilla Lars (Gothborgen) 5:46 Host talks 9:57 Ernst Reijseger ...