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Ben Schachter

Ben Schachter is a powerful and original saxophonist and composer. As a leader, he has six recordings on his own label. He has performed and recorded in the U.S., Europe, and Asia with; Tim Hagans, Conrad Herwig, John Zorn, Gary Bartz, Dick Oatts, Sam Rivers, Dave Holland, Jeff "Tain" Watts, Terell Stafford, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Uri Caine, George Garzone, Marc Ribot, Mark Dresser, John Swana, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Charles Fambrough, James Genus, Jef Lee Johnson, Marvin "Smitty" Smith, Burhan Ocal, Jack Walrath, etc. As a composer, Ben has been recognized with grants from the American Composers Forum (2003), Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (2001 & 2005), and Pew Fellowships in the Arts (1999). A Philadelphia native, he has been cited in his hometown press as "Best Jazz Artist" and "Best Saxophonist". Holding Degrees from Berklee College of Music and the New England Conservatory, Ben has been a passionate educator for many years. He taught at Berklee from 1986-88, and at Bucks County Community College in Newtown, PA from 1991-96. In Philadelphia he taught at Temple University as an Assistant Professor in the school’s renowned Jazz Studies program from 1993 to 2010. He was an adjunct Assistant Professor of Music at The University of the Arts from 2004 to 2010. Ben has also been an active clinician for years, conducting clinics and masterclasses at numerous colleges, high schools and universities in the U.S. and Europe. In 2010, seeking a change of lifestyle and fulfilling a desire to live in an environment of natural beauty, Ben moved with his wife to Tucson, Arizona. In 2012, wishing to again live in a vibrant city, Ben and his wife moved to San Diego, California.

Awards

As a composer, Ben has been recognized with grants from the American Composers Forum (2003), Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (2001 & 2005), andPew Fellowships in the Arts (1999). Philadelphia CityPaper: "Best Jazz Artist"(1999) and "Hottest Saxophonist"(2001)

Conrad Herwig: Land of Shadow

by C. Andrew Hovan
May 1, 2023

In the spirit of Miles Davis and a select number of his followers, Conrad Herwig in the course of his musical endeavors spanning some 20 years has strived to keep the music inching forward to new and previously undiscovered vistas. His versatility as demonstrated by an ability to transcend genres, be it Eddie Palmieri's Afro-Cuban muse or the repertory bent of the Mingus Big Band, also raises its head in his outstanding series of Criss Cross recordings that began with ...

342

Album Review

Ben Schachter: Omnibus

Read "Omnibus" reviewed by Victor L. Schermer

by Victor L. Schermer
December 13, 2008

Saxophonist Ben Schachter is a jazz master, well known in the Philadelphia area and beyond. On this outstanding CD, he and his cohorts go beyond playing their instruments to creating works of art. Each piece forms a coherent composition where improvisations come close to sounding like the interpretation of a written score. Heartfelt yet profoundly intellectual, each consists of a fully developed means of expression while creating a mood--often a blue mood--all its own.

Schachter's opener, ...

174

Album Review

Ben Schachter and Sung/Unsung: Nothingman

by AAJ Staff
November 17, 2004

Philadelphia-area saxophonist Ben Schachter plays a wide range of reed instruments extremely well, although his primary voice is the tenor saxophone. He's been influenced by Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane, yet his burly tenor sound is clearly his own, and his approach is both original and personal. If the music on his self-produced Nothingman is any indication, Schachter deserves to be much better known.

Sung/Unsung is the name of Schachter's current band, which pivots on the interplay between Schachter and ...

223

Album Review

Ben Schachter & Sung/Unsung: Nothingman

Read "Nothingman" reviewed by Mark F. Turner

by Mark F. Turner
October 27, 2004

With a sharp edge that cuts on the side of dynamic playing and improvisation, Nothingman is the latest release by reedist and bandleader Ben Schachter. The Philadelphia-based musician has earned a reputation as one who treads clear of tepid jazz waters in favor of progressive and free flowing ones, as attested on his recent recordings Inside, Looking Out and Missing Beloved.

Schachter's new group Sung/Unsung is appropriately titled as he joined by highly accomplished (if not widely known) musicians--bassist Matthew ...

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Profile

Saxophonist Ben Schachter Pursues his Musical Vision

by Tony Rogers
December 17, 2003

He’s wowed critics and clubgoers, won fellowships and magazine polls. He’s recorded two CDs as a leader and has two more on the way.

But like so many jazz musicians before him, Philly-area tenor saxophonist and composer Ben Schachter has yet to land a contract with a major record label.

It hasn’t stopped him.

Told he should move to New York to break into jazz’s big leagues, Schachter, a Philadelphia native, stayed put. No bites from the major labels? Schachter ...

163

Album Review

Ben Schachter: The Missing Beloved

Read "The Missing Beloved" reviewed by Glenn Astarita

by Glenn Astarita
October 25, 2002

If the news hasn’t reached you, then listen up! Philadelphia-based saxophonist Ben Schachter is one of the sharpest improvisers in modern jazz. Primarily due to his “Trio of Many" band featuring bassist Micah Jones and drummer Erik Johnson. Here, Schachter enhances his trio with perennial all-stars, saxophonist Gary Bartz, guitarist Jef Lee Johnson, and trumpeter Tim Hagans. With the piece titled “Visitation,” Schachter (tenor sax) soars into the stratosphere via a series of torrid hard bop lines. Hagans follows while ...

194

Album Review

Ben Schachter: Trio of Many

by Glenn Astarita
March 1, 2001

Philadelphia, Pa. has been producing fine prizefighters, jazz musicians, and scrumptious cheesesteaks for years! And while we focus our attention to the arts, saxophonist/composer/educator Ben Schachter represents yet another impressive exponent of Philly’s long standing lineage of musicians who often possess signature sounds and styles. - A characteristic which is significant when considering the glut of CDs being released by folks with marginal talent, who can afford a medium priced digital mixer/recorder, a few decent mic’s and do-it-yourself mastering software. ...

Performance / Tour

Ben Schachter @ Philadelphia's Cafe Habana on December 13, 2006

Source: All About Jazz
December 11, 2006

"If the news hasn't reached you, then listen up! Philadelphia-based saxophonist Ben Schachter is one of the sharpest improvisers in modern jazz." AllAboutJazz

"...a new style of freedom and democracy." JazzTimes

"...beautifully arranged interludes offset by passages of boundless improvising...something special is happening here." JazzImprov

"...the power of...Dave Holland...or Steve Coleman...the authority of Joe Lovano..." Cadence

"...advanced harmonic capabilities and fluid, sure-fire rhythmic drive....a personal and present-tense sound." Philadelphia CityPaper

Primary Instrument

Saxophone, tenor

Location

San Diego

Willing to teach

Intermediate to advanced

Credentials/Background

Lessons with BEN SCHACHTER. An acclaimed jazz artist who has played around the world with many greats of the music, BEN SCHACHTER has also passionately taught at some of the best jazz studies colleges and universities. Ben’s former students include some of today’s most celebrated jazz musicians. Lessons with Ben are for any musician, on any instrument and at any level, who wishes to grow artistically and expressively. Study Saxophone, Improvisation, Composition, Arranging, Repertoire (learning tunes), Theory/Harmony/Analysis, Time/Rhythm/Meter, Performance Methodology, any or all of these topics combined into that which we call CONCEPT. Lessons are available in person at Ben’s home in San Diego, on-line via Skype, or anywhere in residency by arrangement. Contact: [email protected]. Visit www.sungunsung.com for more information.

Clinic/Workshop Information

Primary Instrument

Saxophone, tenor

Location

San Diego

Willing to teach

Intermediate to advanced

Credentials/Background

Clinic/Workshop Information

IMPROVISATION: These clinics represent a unique approach to studying and practicing the art of improvisation. Through experiences teaching improvisation as a professor at Temple University and the University of the Arts to all levels of students - from beginning improvisors to advanced graduate students - a novel method of "demystifying" the act of improvisation has been developed. Emphasis is placed on fundamental instrumental and theoretical skills being employed in a personal and creative manner to offer the student the liberating (indeed spiritual) experience of improvising meaningful music. THE MUSIC OF THELONIOUS MONK: I have long been fascinated by the music of this great Master. I have studied, analyzed, taught, interpreted, arranged, adapted and performed this music for years. Let's talk about Monk! SMALL GROUP PERFORMANCE: Working with ensembles from Duo to Octet developing concepts of interaction, arrangement, improvisation, instrumental "role reversal", etc. I have conducted clinics and masterclasses at the University of Arizona, Arizona State University, Temple University, University of Pennsylvania, Swarthmore College, Rotterdam Conservatory, Royal Conservatory of Den Haag, Rowan State University, Istanbul University, Westchester University...

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