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Brooklyn based bassist / composer Ben Rolston is an accomplished and compelling performer in an eclectic range of musical styles. Ben has performed with important musical voices like Marcus Belgrave, Laurence Hobgood (Kurt Elling), Tim Ries (Rolling Stones), Dwight Adams (Stevie Wonder), and Nick Dunston, and at world-class venues like The Detroit Jazz Festival, The Newport Jazz Festival, Birdland, The Jazz Gallery, The Stone, The Green Mill, and Jazz at the Bistro.
Born in Ann Arbor, Ben’s young musical curiosity and talent were honed by the teachers and musical culture of Ann Arbor and Detroit, leading to his matriculation at The University of Michigan to study with master musicians such as Robert Hurst and Geri Allen. Immediately after graduating in 2012, Ben released his debut album Fables, described as “full of grandeur and dissonance” and “find of the week” by Dave Sumner (eMusic Contributor). Shortly after the album release Ben was one of sixteen young jazz musicians from around the country handpicked to be a part of Ravinia’s Jazz Institute featuring legends Rufus Reid, Curtis Fuller, David Baker and Nathan Davis.
Moving to Detroit after graduation sparked a period of intense growth and musical activity. A talented and close-knit peer group led to established bands, regular gigs, a flurry of recordings, and the founding of POLYFOLD Musical Arts Collective, a non-profit musicians advocacy group. During this time Ben was also touring the country with The Appleseed Collective, a band playing original music influenced by various folk forms. A 2016 residency in Switzerland with the Alex Levine Quartet was the catalyst for 3 records, 3 tours in Europe, and a short film about collaboration between American and Italian musicians. In 2018 Ben performed at Newport Jazz Festival with ASCAP prize winning artist Estar Cohen feat. Fabian Almazan.
Since moving to NYC in 2017 Rolston has presented three new bands, each in a different stylistic realm, and helped put on a monthly concert series with POLYFOLD featuring some of the best improvisers NY has to offer.
THE BAND:
There is no cover and reservations are not required for this show.
