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| Ben Sher Biography Ben Sher's recordings on BGI Records Ben Sher is a unique jazz
guitarist. Fluent in the classic jazz tradition of Wes Montgomery, Kenny Burrell, and
George Benson, Ben also draws from the rich Brazilian guitar tradition of Baden Powell,
Joao Bosco, and Joao Gilberto, as well as the great American electric blues guitarist
tradition. Ben combines standard jazz plectrum technique, with classical fingerstyle, to
create a wide range of sounds and textures. He plays a few different hollow body electric
guitars as well as a custom
designed archtop nylon string guitar, made for him by the L.A. Guitar Factory in
North Carolina. A twelve year veteran of the New York music scene, Ben is originally from Pittsburgh where he received his B.A. in Music from Carnegie-Mellon University, while studying with the great Brazilian classical guitarist Carlos Barbosa-Lima. Ben relocated to Boston in 1984 where he studied with Mick Goodrick, receiving a Master’s degree in jazz studies from the New England Conservatory in 1986. Before leaving Boston, Ben appeared on two recordings, Jumpin’ Into the Future, by Gunther Schuller, and Lookin’ Up From Down Below, by George Schuller, both on the GRM label. Ben also recorded and performed with the Boston Jazz Composer’s Orchestra. In 1993 he played on Ride the Planet, a classical-rock composition by Todd Levin which was released on Phillip Glass’s Point Record label (a division of Polygram). Ben’s first solo recording, Handprints, released in 1994 on Cymbal Records, received rave reviews. Handprints, which features Bruce Barth on piano, Dennis Irwin on bass, Mike Clark on drums and the late great Frankie Malabe on congas, is a Latin influenced jazz record. In 1996, Ben toured Brazil with a production of the rock opera “Tommy”. While there he recorded a track for the Brazilian singer Oswaldo Montenegro, which was produced by the great bossa-nova legend Roberto Menescal. After returning from Brazil, Ben recorded Tudo Bem?, a Brazilian jazz record for BGI Records, and formed the group by the same name. TudoBem has toured in Austria, Switzerland, Germany and in 1999 performed at the Blue Note for a one month engagement in Fukuoka, Japan. Last year Ben completed a two month European tour with the world renowned theater vocalist Ute Lemper, which included appearances at the Montreaux Jazz Festival, Istanbul Jazz Festival, and philharmonias in Berlin, Stockolm, Milan and Barcelona. Ben is also a member of the groups, " The Hi-Tops" and “Ballin' The Jack”. “Ballin' The Jack” has two recordings on Knitting Factory Works; Jungle and The Big Head. Last year they performed at the North Sea and Marsala Jazz Festivals, and the Jazz and Image Festival in Rome. Ben is also very involved in education. Currently he is an Assistant Professor at the Berklee College of Music in Boston where he teaches courses in Brazilian guitar style as well as private instruction. Ben also offers workshops and seminars in Brazilian music. This year he traveled to North Carolina and presented workshops at UNC Asheville, Appalachian State and UNC Charlotte. For more information and a brochure on Ben’s workshops and his private instruction practice, contact Ben Sher. This year Ben performed in concert with Brazilian guitarist Nelson Faria at the Berklee College of Music. TudoBem can often be heard performing at the famous Blue Note jazz club in New York City. For more information on Ben's schedule, recordings, etc. contact him at: Ben Sher |
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