Above and below are videos from our recent show at the Back Room in Berkeley, CA on August 6th.  A huge thanks to Sam Rudin for having us there, and to our wonderful audience.  This is the first show that I live streamed on my Facebook page as well, and I am so happy that so many people were able to tune in and enjoy it.  At the bottom of the post are a couple pictures from our down time hiking in Point Lobos and Big Sur (two of the most beautiful places I have ever been), as well as a couple photos from our performances.  It was an absolute pleasure being on the West Coast this past week, and we hope to be back soon!

Top: Point Lobos in the Carmel Highlands.  Bottom: Big Sur.

Hi everyone!

I am very happy to be leading my trio on a West Coast tour in a couple weeks.  We will be in the Bay Area from August 1st to August 8th making a number of stops, including six performances and a couple of radio interviews (click on my schedule page for a full itinerary).  Below are three of the highlights:

Hi everyone!

I hope all is well, and thanks always for the continuing support.  This summer has already been an incredibly exciting time for me.  I had the opportunity to travel to Italy for the first time to perform in a small town called Gubbio in Perugia, and I've had a number of really special appearances in the Northeast, including my CD release concert at Mezzrow in late May.  The next few months are promising to be equally special, so I wanted to share with you what I'll be doing and where I'll be appearing in the upcoming weeks.

In July, I'll be performing mostly in New York City and the surrounding area.  I'm especially excited to have been invited back to the Kitano on Thursday, July 20th for two sets with my trio (8pm and 10pm).  I had a blast when I was at the Kitano in April for their Tuesday solo piano series, and I'm so happy that I'm able to return there with a full group.  It's one of my favorite places to play.  More information can be found at their website: http://www.kitano.com/Jazz-Schedule.

I'll also be doing a solo piano concert in Ewing, NJ on July 7th at the 1867 Sanctuary.  This is an absolutely gorgeous venue, and I can't wait to perform there.  Visit the 1867 Sanctuary website at http://www.1867sanctuary.org/150festivalCJ0707.html for more info about the appearance.  Other notable appearances in July include an accordion festival in Bryant Park on July 5th from 6pm-8pm (free admission!), a concert in Stamford, NY for the Friends of Music Concert Series on Sunday, July 16th with Marty Jaffe, and an appearance at Smalls with the Tim Hegarty Group on July 26th, as well as my on-going appearances with the incredible Curtis Lundy and Winard Harper (Thursdays 7:30-10:30 at Orama in Edgewater, NJ, and Sundays 2:30-5:30 at Suzy Que's in West Orange)

Finally, I'm incredibly happy to announce that I will be doing my first West Coast tour alongside the wonderful Kanoa Mendenhall on bass and Ben Zweig on drums.  We will be appearing at a number of amazing venues, including the famous Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz, CA on Thursday, August 3rd at 7:00pm.  Other highlights of the trip will be Cafe Pink House in Saratoga, CA on Friday, August 4th at 7:30pm and the Back Room in Berkeley, CA on Sunday, August 6th at 8:00pm.  We will be making other stops as well, so stay tuned for all the latest news on my website and on my Instagram (@benrosenblummusic), and spread the word to all your friends on the West Coast!

I'm so excited to share the music from my album with everyone at my CD release event at Mezzrow, this Sunday, May 21st.  The set at 8:00pm is sold out for the listening room, but there are still seats available at the bar for walk-ins.  The set at 9:30pm has plenty of space in the listening room, so if you want to guarantee a spot in the listening room, definitely follow this link and reserve tickets for the 9:30pm show.

I'm incredibly lucky to be sharing this night with the rhythm section from my album: jazz luminaries Curtis Lundy on bass and Billy Hart on drums.  These two musicians are among my heroes, and I am so fortunate that they have given their talents to my music.  This will be a very special night, and I am looking forward to seeing everyone there!

Hi everyone!

I'm incredibly excited to announce that my debut album, Instead, is out now and available for purchase at CD Baby (physical copy), Amazon (digital copy) and many more sites!  Featuring Curtis Lundy on bass and Billy Hart on drums, Instead is a culmination of many years of musical growth and development, and features original compositions from as far back as eight years that have been evolving and changing as I have played them.  The music is deeply rooted in the hard bop tradition, but features a modern melodic sensibility and a wide variety of different styles ranging from bossa to up-tempo swing.  It has been a privilege working with Curtis and Billy, and I hope that you enjoy listening to the album as much as I enjoyed making it.

Check back in soon for the latest details about live CD release events coming up in New York City and in the surrounding area, as well as any new reviews or publicity about the album.  And a huge thanks again to everyone who made this album possible!

Hi everyone!

On March 1st, 2017, I will be releasing my debut album as a leader, entitled Instead, and featuring the amazing Curtis Lundy on bass and Billy Hart on drums. A huge thank you to everyone who has been part of this process -- especially everyone at One Trick Dog Records for providing so much support throughout the whole process -- and I am incredibly excited to share this music with all of you, and to provide updates and information about upcoming events associated with the CD.  There is a lot more info to come about the album, so stay tuned, and I'm very much looking forward to everyone hearing the music!

Today, I wanted to post specifically to say how privileged I feel to have been featured in the most recent issue of Downbeat magazine! Special thanks to Bob Doerschuk for writing such a beautiful review of the CD.  The digital issue of the magazine just came out today, and the print issue is out March 14th, so keep on the lookout for the review (I am on page 58).  Below is a screenshot of the page that I am featured on:

Currently, I am mixing the record with my amazing brother Dev Avidon at Avidon Audio Labs, and it should be pressed and ready to be released in early 2017.  Definitely stay tuned for more info about the record, and for information about an upcoming CD release event to promote the album!

Hi everyone!  After a grueling final semester, I am happy to say that I have now completed my undergraduate degree participating in the exchange program between Columbia University and Juilliard School of Music.  A huge thank you goes to everyone who has supported me along the way.

This past four years has been an incredible journey.  While at Columbia, I have met and played with some of my favorite musicians, and I have befriended some of the most incredible people I have ever encountered.  It has been a true pleasure to attend both Columbia and Juilliard, and I will miss many of the people I used to see there on a regular basis.  At the same time, it feels wonderful to be able to commit myself full-time to music now, and I am very excited to grow further as a musician and to continue to develop musical relationships with the amazing musicians in New York City.  I have a number of projects in the works currently -- including a debut album -- and I can't wait to share the results with everyone.  Stay tuned for further updates, and as always, check the schedule tab for a list of upcoming appearances.