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Ben Schachter
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)
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Conrad Herwig: Land of Shadow
![Read "Conrad Herwig: Land of Shadow" reviewed by C. Andrew Hovan](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/coverart/large/f530c56116108910076884c5928fa84a.jpg)
by C. Andrew Hovan
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 ...
read moreBen Schachter: Omnibus
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by Victor L. Schermer
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, ...
read moreBen Schachter and Sung/Unsung: Nothingman
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by AAJ Staff
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 ...
read moreBen Schachter & Sung/Unsung: Nothingman
![Read "Nothingman" reviewed by Mark F. Turner](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/coverart/large/ce694bb269f3ab6e9dffb6cc85d89205.jpg)
by Mark F. Turner
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 ...
read moreSaxophonist Ben Schachter Pursues his Musical Vision
![Read "Saxophonist Ben Schachter Pursues his Musical Vision" reviewed by Tony Rogers](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/94097646a5c36b4cf45b2f3bd70bc720.jpg)
by Tony Rogers
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 ...
read moreBen Schachter: The Missing Beloved
![Read "The Missing Beloved" reviewed by Glenn Astarita](http://www.cdbaby.com/covers/s/c/schachter3.jpg)
by Glenn Astarita
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 ...
read moreBen Schachter: Trio of Many
![Read "Trio of Many" reviewed by Glenn Astarita](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/94097646a5c36b4cf45b2f3bd70bc720.jpg)
by Glenn Astarita
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. ...
read moreBen Schachter @ Philadelphia's Cafe Habana on December 13, 2006
![Ben Schachter @ Philadelphia's Cafe Habana on December 13, 2006](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/logo/bd38a72ed12128b10ddc05c6087dacb8.jpg)
Source:
All About Jazz
"...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.