Since his arrival on the Chicago jazz scene in 2004, BEN PATERSON has been a pianist and organist in high demand–performing with a wide array of musicians. Inspired by jazz greats like Art Tatum, Jimmy Smith, Sonny Clark and Jimmy McGriff, his style is one which encompasses both old and new, allowing him to sound equally at home with younger, contemporary musicians, or as the first-call pianist for Chicago tenor saxophone legend Von Freeman. As Von has said of Ben, “He was raised right.” An alumnus of the University of Chicago and a top prize winner in the Chicago Union League Jazz Improvisation Competitions, Ben has performed at the 2010 Montreal Jazz Fest, the 2006 and 2009 Chicago Jazz Fests, the 2007 and 2008 Chicago Blues Fests. In addition to being Von’s pianist, he has worked with such musicians as Red Holloway, Guy King, Eldee Young, Henry Johnson, Corey Wilkes, Dave Specter, George Freeman, and Ernest Dawkins. Performing with Ben are KYLE ASCHE, guitar; VICTOR GARCIA, trumpet; and ERNIE ADAMS, drums.
Website: http://www.benpaterson.com/
