New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Pianist Ben Rosenblum will perform music from his debut release Instead alongside a veteran rhythm section of jazz masters, including Curtis Lundy (Grammy-nominated bassist famous for his work with Betty Carter) and Billy Hart (legendary drummer with Miles Davis, McCoy Tyner and Herbie Hancock) at Mezzrow (163 West 10th Street) on Sunday, May 21. Instead has already received numerous accolades, including four stars in Downbeat Magazine, and high marks from All About Jazz, Jazz Weekly, and RG Magazine. Ben's music has also earned many awards, including the ASCAP Young Jazz Composers Award and several Downbeat Student
Music Awards (for best original composition, best original arrangement). His playing has been described as "mature beyond his years." (John Neudorf)
Mezzrow reservations at: www.mezzrow.com Sets at 8:00 pm and 9:30 pm. There is a $20.00 music charge.
Instead features six original compositions and five covers, and showcases Ben's versatility and depth as both a pianist and composer. The music combines Ben's foundation in traditional hard bop with his modern melodic sensibility, moving effortlessly from bossa to modal swing. Reviewers have praised Instead for its "irresistible melodies" (Neudorf):
"The music is thoughtful. ... Rosenblum has the chops to shoot off a few fireworks, ... but that doesn't seem to be a priority when covering sacred material. Rosenblum and Lundy caress [the music] with the reverence it merits." -Bob Doerschuk, Downbeat Magazine ( April 2017 issue)
"There do emerge conservatoire aces with grit in their imaginations and a facility to express such in their playing. Ben Rosenblum is one such performer/composer. ... the precociously young musician ... incorporates the percussive nature of a Don Pullen-Cecil Taylor with the melodic finesse of a Gene Harris-Alan Broadbent. He winds these considerable influences in with his own impressive talent completely supported by drummer Billy Hart and bassist Curtis Lundy. That is heady company for a debut but certainly more than warranted considering the music produced." -C. Michael Bailey, All About Jazz
Ben has played with the Bachiana Brasileira Orchestra at Lincoln Center (with Joao
Carlos Martins and Dave Brubeck), in Delhi, India, at the Masten Jazz Festival, Richmond Jazz Festival, Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival, Lincoln Center Out of Doors, DUMBO Arts Festivaland
Music Mountain Festival as well as Carnegie Hall, Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, Allen Room, Webster Hall, Symphony Space and Blue Note. He has also composed for Ryland Angel, has arranged for Katini Yamaoka, and worked extensively with such jazz luminaries as Curtis Lundy, Neal Smith, Winard Harper, Wayne Escoffery and Deborah Davis. He has also shared the stage with
Houston Person, Jerry Dodgion, Warren Wolf, Dave Stryker, Clarence Penn,
Craig Handy, Bob Nieske, Stacy Dillard, Chris Washburne, Eliot Zigmund, Ameen Saleem, Yasushi Nakamura, Josh Evans, Patience Higgins,
James Cammack, Steve Nelson, Essiet Essiet, TS Monk, Kenny Davis, Rogerio Boccato, and Willie Williams, and he has performed alongside Wycliffe Gordon, Brian Lynch and Phil Woods as a member of the prestigious New York Youth Symphony Jazz Band. Recently, he was a finalist at the 2015 American Jazz Piano Competition in Melbourne, Florida, and the 2016 Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition in Jacksonville, Florida.
