Artist Bio
Ben Crowder
Bringing a fresh and modern approach to classic jazz traditions
Ben Crowder is a versatile and skilled musician based in Brooklyn, New York, who has steadily built a career as a trombonist, composer, and arranger. He is the founder and leader of BC6, a jazz sextet that formed in Columbus, Ohio in 2018 with the aim of exploring the rich legacy of hard bop. Since then, the band has evolved and transformed, becoming a pianoless quartet that emphasizes interwoven melodies and harmonies without a chordal instrument. BC6, now known simply as the Ben Crowder Quartet, serves as a vehicle for Crowder's original compositions and arrangements, which draw on a wide range of influences that span bebop, neo-soul, indie rock, and more.
Crowder's background as a professional trombonist dates back to 2015 when he began working as a freelance musician. He has since performed with a diverse array of groups and ensembles, including The Columbus Jazz Orchestra, The Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra, Swingadelic, Waves de Ache, The Silver Arrow Band, The Big Badd, Kinfolk, and Doc Robinson. In addition to his work as a performer, Crowder is also an accomplished composer and arranger, with a particular gift for creating music that showcases the unique talents and strengths of the musicians he works with.
Crowder's influences as a composer and improviser are broad and eclectic, ranging from jazz legends like JJ Johnson, Art Farmer and Gerry Mulligan to contemporary acts like MGMT, Beach House, and Interpol. This wide pool of influences has allowed him to develop a distinctive and personal voice as a musician, one that combines technical virtuosity with a deep emotional and intellectual engagement with the music he plays.
If you're interested in booking Ben Crowder for a performance or private lesson, or if you'd like to stay up to date on his latest shows, music, and merchandise releases, please reach out to him at bencrowdermusic@gmail.com.