12/11 - Friday :: Ben Allison, Steve Cardenas, Rudy Royston

Web Site:Ben Allison

Ben Allison is a “visionary composer, adventurous improviser, and strong organizational force on the New York City jazz scene, [and] has emerged as a rising star over the past decade” (JazzTimes).

For the past decade Ben has toured extensively throughout the US, Canada, Europe, and Brazil with his groups Man Size Safe, Peace Pipe, and Medicine Wheel winning fans and building new audiences with an adventurous yet accessible sound and a flair for the unexpected.

Called “one of today’s best young jazz musicians” by the Boston Globe, Ben has released eight albums of original music — Little Things Run the World (2008), Cowboy Justice (2006), Buzz (2004), Peace Pipe (2002), Riding the Nuclear Tiger (2001), Third Eye (1999), and Medicine Wheel (1998) on Palmetto Records, and his 1996 debut Seven Arrows on the Koch Jazz label — all of which showcase Ben's forward-thinking vision as a producer, composer, arranger, and bassist, and his hands-on approach to his craft.

Cited in the “Bassist” category of the 2008, 2007, 2006 and 2005 Downbeat Readers’ Poll, Ben’s work has not gone unnoticed by the press. Since 2003 Ben has been routinely listed in the Downbeat Critics Poll in an extremely wide variety of categories including "Bassist,” “Composer,” “Rising Star Bassist,” (ranking #1 in 2005, 2006 and 2007), "Rising Star Album," "Rising Star Acoustic Group," "Rising Star Arranger," and "Rising Star Jazz Artist," all of which is a testament to his dedication as a musician.

Web Site: Steve Cardenas

Steve Cardenas has diverse credits as a performer and recording artist. Having started his musical career in Kansas City, he is now an integral part of the jazz community in New York.

Cardenas has backed up such greats as Eddie Harris, Marilyn Maye, Jay McShann, and Slide Hampton. He has toured Europe extensively, performing at various jazz festivals including the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland on three separate occasions and the North Sea Jazz Festival four times. He has regularly performed in groups led by such diverse artists as Paul McCandless of the group Oregon, trumpeters/composers Mark Isham and Jeff Beal, bassists Marc Johnson and John Patitucci, as well as vocalists Madeleine Peyroux and Norah Jones. Steve is currently a member of the Paul Motian Band, Charlie Haden Liberation Music Orchestra, a group led by Joey Baron called "Killer Joey", as well as Ben Allison & Man Size Safe. In addition, he leads his own trio performing at various venues around New York City.

Web Site: Rudy Royston

Royston has been a professional teacher, drummer and percussionist for almost twenty years. He studied classical percussion at University of Denver where earned undergraduate degrees in Music and English; Rudy accomplished teacher certification credentials from Metropolitan State College of Denver. Rudy grew up playing drums in church, and found his voice under the auspices of Colorado’s celebrated trumpeter Ron Miles, whom Royston deems his greatest influence, and with whom Rudy has played since 1991. He has taught, recorded and performed all styles of music from Jazz to marching percussion. Royston has performed with many of today’s finest Jazz musicians. Javon Jackson, Bill Frisell, Les McCann, David Gilmore, Andy Milne, Shane Endsley, JD Allen, Sean Jones, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Edward Simone, Jennifer Holiday, Mark Gross, Ralph Bowen, Bruce Barth, George Colligan, Don Byron, Stanley Cowell, Jonathan Kreisberg, Jenny Scheinmenn and Craig Handy, to name a few. A lover of all genres of music, Rudy continues to pursue music and expand his music horizons.