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Benjamin Shepherd

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Born and raised in Wellington, New Zealand, Benjamin J. Shepherd started playing bass when he was 7 years old. 11 years later he moved to Los Angeles to study at the California Institute of Arts (CalArts) under the watchful eye of Bass heavy weights Charlie Haden, Alphonso Johnson and Darek Oles. Since finishing up at Calarts Benjamin has become one of the busiest and most in demand Bassists in Los Angeles. He has worked on stage and in the studio with artists such as David Archuleta, Lee Ritenour, Mike Keneally, Mike Stern, Billy Childs, Patrice Rushen, Bob Sheppard, John Beasley, The Monk'estra, Virgil Donati, Hadrien Feraud, Chance The Rapper, School Boy Q, Mark de Clive-Lowe, Miguel Atwood Ferguson and many more. Proficient on both Upright Bass and Bass Guitar, Benjamin fits perfectly in any musical setting.

MONK'estra: MONK'estra Plays John Beasley

Read "MONK'estra Plays John Beasley" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
November 6, 2021

The MONK'estra is actually a number of groups of various shapes and sizes, from duo to big band, assembled under the guiding hand of composer, arranger & pianist John Beasley to—wait for it!—"play John Beasley," an artist whose admiration for Thelonious Sphere Monk is clear throughout this buoyant and resourceful album, as it was on Volumes 1 and 2 of the series, in which the MONK'estra “played Monk." Beasley wrote eight of the album's fourteen genial numbers ...

Album Review

Jon Armstrong Sextet: Reabsorb

Read "Reabsorb" reviewed by Mark Corroto

by Mark Corroto
December 25, 2020

Saxophonist Jon Armstrong reminds us that life and death are two sides of the same coin. Although seemingly disparate, like two sides of an LP, they cannot be separated. His sextet recording Reabsorb models this contrasting device by presenting two contrasting compositions, one on each side of an LP (also available as a CD and download). The music, inspired by an Erin Armstrong poem, presents both sides, which at first encounter come off as binary elements. Loud and soft. Busy ...

Album Review

John Beasley: MONK'estra Plays John Beasley

Read "MONK'estra Plays John Beasley" reviewed by Jim Worsley

by Jim Worsley
December 17, 2020

In 2016 John Beasley gifted us with John Beasley Presents Monk'estra Volume 1 (Mack Avenue). The buzz of that superb record led to John Beasley Presents Monk'estra Volume 2 (Mack Avenue, 2017). Both records were Grammy nominated for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album. They were both more than Grammy worthy, but alas the competition is fierce. Beasley has been more than a Thelonious Monk fan throughout his life, including his now over forty years in the music industry. ...