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Ben Allison Archives

Allison, Cardenas, and Nash Announce New Album, “Tell The Birds I Said Hello”
News

Allison, Cardenas, and Nash Announce New Album, “Tell The Birds I Said Hello”

With three albums under the belts already, the trio of Ben Allison, Steve Cardenas, and Ted Nash have teamed up once again. They’ve just announced their next project, “Tell The Birds I Said Hello: The Music of Herbie Nichols.”

Ben Allison Completes Remastered Series with “Action Refraction”
New Albums

Ben Allison Completes Remastered Series with “Action Refraction”

Ben Allison has just released the fifth and final part of his “Remastered Series 2004-2011,” which presents his albums from the era with new clarity. Action Refraction was first released in 2011 as the jazz bassist and composer’s version of a “covers” record. “Meticulously remixed and remastered by Ben, ‘Action Refraction (Remastered)’ is a mixtape featuring re-imagined versions of classic...

Ben Allison, Ted Nash, and Steve Cardenas Release “Healing Power – The Music of Carla Bley”
New Albums

Ben Allison, Ted Nash, and Steve Cardenas Release “Healing Power – The Music of Carla Bley”

The creative jazz trio of Steve Cardenas, Ted Nash, and Ben Allison have released their third album. “Healing Power – The Music of Carla Bley” presents the music of the influential pianist and composer in their own intimate style.

Ben Allison Releases 14th Album, “Moments Inside”
New Albums

Ben Allison Releases 14th Album, “Moments Inside”

Artists have channeled the uncertainty of recent times into some astounding music. Although much has reflected chaos and confusion, Ben Allison’s output is more of a balm. He’s just released “Moments Inside”, his fourteenth record as a leader.

Ted Nash, Steve Cardenas, and Ben Allison Release “Somewhere Else”
New Albums

Ted Nash, Steve Cardenas, and Ben Allison Release “Somewhere Else”

The trio of saxophonist Ted Nash, guitarist Steve Cardenas, and bassist Ben Allison have teamed up once again for a new recording. “Somewhere Else” reimagines the music of “West Side Story” into their three-piece format, with room for experimentation.

Ben Allison’s “Quiet Revolution” Gets Wide Release
New Albums

Ben Allison’s “Quiet Revolution” Gets Wide Release

Previously only available on vinyl, Ben Allison’s 2016 release, Quiet Revolution, is now available on CD and digital formats. The trio album features guitarist Steve Cardenas and saxophonist/clarinetist Ted Nash in a subtle setting that pays homage to the work of jazz greats Jim Hall and Jimmy Giuffre. “Those records were made in the late ’50s, through the ’60s and...

Making Music: Pro Bassist Insights on Composing
Interviews

Making Music: Pro Bassist Insights on Composing

Gigs tend to dry up for bassists during the winter months (besides holiday work), making it the perfect time to start composing new music for the spring. Whether you’re a seasoned composer or just starting out on the bass, writing music will help you grow as a player and musician. We compiled some advice from the world’s top bass players...

Think Free: An Interview with Ben Allison
Interviews

Think Free: An Interview with Ben Allison

Ben Allison has had several names for his various bands, but Think Free may be one of the most apropos to his creative style. The bassist/composer crafts adventurous songs that defy simple categorization or labeling. He’s also a free-thinker in terms of forging his career path. After years of working for a record label, he branched out to create his...

Ben Allison Trio: Pony Express
Bass Videos

Ben Allison Trio: Pony Express

Ben Allison has a new album out with saxophonist Ted Nash and guitarist Steve Cardenas called The Quiet Revolution, and it’s sublime. Modeled after the drummerless trios of Jimmy Giuffre and Jim Hall, the band’s configuration allows for freedom while pushing each member to get creative. Here’s a video of the trio performing Giuffre’s “Pony Express” with Allison starting things...

Ben Allison Releases “The Stars Look Very Different Today”
New Albums

Ben Allison Releases “The Stars Look Very Different Today”

Ben Allison has a new atmospheric album out, . Taking its name from David Bowie’s lyrics to “Space Oddity,” the bassist’s eleventh album as a leader brings together his lifelong love of space, technology and film. Allison used the record as a medium to explore musical textures that tie the three together. The result offers up a sci-fi vibe influenced...

Ben Allison Releases Action-Refraction
New Albums

Ben Allison Releases Action-Refraction

Bassist/composer Ben Allison has released his tenth album as a bandleader, entitled Action-Refraction. The disc features Allison’s takes on songs by his favorite artists, including PJ Harvey, Donny Hathaway, Thelonious Monk, Neil Young, Samuel Barber and Roger Nichols. This is a new approach for the composer as only one of the tracks, Broken, is an original. The idea for the...

Ben Allison’s Newport Festival Performance Released Online
Concerts & Tours

Ben Allison’s Newport Festival Performance Released Online

Audio from bassist/composer Ben Allison’s entire set from the 2010 CareFusion Newport Jazz Festival is available for free online streaming through NPR Music. The show kicks off with a great bass solo intro to Allison’s composition “Green Al,” from his latest record, Think Free. The band includes Shane Endsley on trumpet, Jenny Scheinman on violin, Steve Cardenas on guitar and...