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.

Till Brönner; Pino Palladino, Blake Mills; Aki Rissanen & More

by Ludovico Granvassu
September 27, 2025

Enjoy a playlist packed with unbridled joy and energy! Happy listening!Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 Till Brönner “Il trucido e lo sbirro" Italia (earMUSIC) 0:16 Host talks 4:59 Aki Rissanen “Glitch In The Heavens" Imaginary Mountains (Edition) 6:43 Pino Palladino, Blake Mills “What Is Wrong with ...

Miguel Zenón, Max Nagl, Vincent Ségal, Stéphane Kerecki & More

by Ludovico Granvassu
September 26, 2025

A playlist of handpicked gems from both sides of the Atlantic.Happy listening!Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 Max Nagl “Shoklad" Phasolny (Rude Noises) 0:16 Host talks 4:04 Vincent Ségal, Stéphane Kerecki “L'échappée" Ponticello (Fuga Libera) 5:16 Host talks 7:47 Naïssam Jalal feat. Sylvain Rifflet “Souffle ...

Nicole Glover, Daniel Bulatkin, Gilad Atzmon, Jane Ira Bloom & More

by Ludovico Granvassu
September 25, 2025

Enjoy another playlist of brilliant new releases the algorithms haven't caught up with yet.Happy listening!Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 Gary Brunton “Snecklifter" Spacecraft (Juste Une Trace) 0:16 Host talks 4:45 Emma Rawicz “Anima Rising" Inkyra (ACT) 6:36 Kai Craig “Lunations" A Time Once Forgotten ...

Hermeto Pascoal: the Sound of Everything

by Ludovico Granvassu
September 25, 2025

From his early accordion days and forró roots to his global influence, Hermeto Pascoal lived in total communion with sound, inspiring generations worldwide. More than a multi-instrumentalist, he was a true “multi-thing-ist," turning pianos, flutes, and drums into magic--but also rubber ducks, teapots, rivers, and stalactites. Perhaps shaped by his vision impairment, he treated every style ...

Jussi Reijonen, Ryan Keberle, Andrea Ciceri, Matthias Schriefl & Eddie Daniels

by Ludovico Granvassu
September 20, 2025

Here is a set that explores projects that reflect their authors' fascination with music from far beyond their own birthplaces. Happy listening! Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 Ryan Keberle's Collectiv do Brasil “Quintessence" Choro das Aguas (Alternate Side) 0:16 Host talks 4:55 Eddie ...

Emma Dayhuff, Nils Petter Molvær, Linda May Han Oh, Jim Black & More

by Ludovico Granvassu
September 19, 2025

If you admire musicians that have developed a signature sound, then this is the playlist for you!Happy listening!Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 Jim Black & The Schrimps “The Sheila" Better You Don't (Intakt) 0:16 Host talks 5:37 Nils Petter Molvær “Solid Ether" KHMER (Live ...

Santiago Leibson, Nicholas Payton, Ronny Graupe, Polar Bear & More

by Ludovico Granvassu
September 16, 2025

Enjoy another batch of wonderful recent releases which reshuffle long-time collaborators into fresh configurations, as well as the reissues of two seminal albums by Polar Bear. Happy listening! Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (featuring Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 Nicholas Payton featuring Esperanza Spalding, Karriem Riggins) “Gold Dust Black Magic ...

Sharon Mansur, Patricia Brennan, Amina Claudine Myers, Samuel Ber & More

by Ludovico Granvassu
September 12, 2025

In this week's installment of our sonic journey around the jazz world, we begin with the North Africa-North America express, driven by Trinidadian trumpet maestro Etienne Charles, and end with Brad Mehldau's reimagining of the music of Elliott Smith. Happy listening! Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & ...

Kirk Knuffke, Anat Fort, Bram de Looze, Bob Wellins & More

by Ludovico Granvassu
September 12, 2025

Another stack of recent and upcoming albums to soundtrack the week ahead, kicking off with three stunners by Kirk Knuffke, Bram de Looze, and Anat Fort's compelling take on the dreamworld of Paul Motian.Happy listening!Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 Kirk Knuffke “Runs Red" Window ...