Ben Paterson (born June 23, 1982) is an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

pianist, organist, composer, and Steinway Artist.

Early life

Paterson graduated from the

Settlement Music School Settlement Music School is a community music school with branches in and around Philadelphia. Founded in 1908 by two young women, Jeannette Selig Frank and Blanche Wolf Kohn, it is the largest community school of the arts in the United States. It ...

in Philadelphia after having spent his earlier years studying classical as well as jazz music. He then relocated to Chicago in 2004 to attend the

University of Chicago The University of Chicago (UChicago, Chicago, U of C, or UChi) is a private university, private research university in Chicago, Illinois. Its main campus is located in Chicago's Hyde Park, Chicago, Hyde Park neighborhood. The University of Chic ...

Later life and career

Starting in 2005, Paterson began working as a pianist for

Von Freeman Earle Lavon "Von" Freeman Sr. (October 3, 1923 – August 11, 2012) was an American hard bop jazz tenor saxophonist. Biography Born in Chicago, Illinois, Freeman as a young child was exposed to jazz. His father, George, a city policeman, was a ...

, an NEA Jazz Master in Chicago. They performed on a regular basis until Freeman's death in August 2012. In the same year, Paterson relocated to New York City to further his professional music career and gain more exposure in the jazz world. Paterson has performed as an opening act for

B.B. King Riley B. King (September 16, 1925 – May 14, 2015), known professionally as B.B. King, was an American blues singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. He introduced a sophisticated style of soloing based on fluid string bending, shi ...

Buddy Guy George "Buddy" Guy (born July 30, 1936) is an American blues guitarist and singer. He is an exponent of Chicago blues who has influenced generations of guitarists including Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Keith Richards, Stevie Ray Vaugh ...

, and Steely Dan, at the 2010

Montreal Jazz Fest The Festival International de Jazz de Montréal ( en, Montreal International Jazz Festival) is an annual jazz festival held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Jazz Fest holds the 2004 Guinness World Record as the world's largest jazz fes ...

, the 2006, 2009, and 2013 Chicago Jazz Fests, the 2007, 2008, and 2011 Chicago Blues Fests, as well as shows in France, China, Switzerland, Mexico, Sweden, and Taiwan. Paterson was the winner of the inaugural Ellis Marsalis Jazz Piano Competition, held in 2018. The prize included $25,000 cash. Starting in 2019 Paterson became one only a few Jazz musicians who are designated Steinway Artists.

Discography

* ''Breathing Space'' (OA2, 2007) * ''Blues For Oscar'' (Meetinghouse Records, 2012) * ''Essential Elements'' (

Maxjazz Maxjazz (corporately styled MAXJAZZ) was an American jazz record label founded in 1998 by investment banker Richard McDonnell. Maxjazz recordings are generally regarded as a "straight-ahead" acoustic style of jazz. It was based in St. Louis, Mis ...

, 2013) * ''For Once in My Life'' (Origin, 2015) * ''Live at Van Gelder's'' (Cellar Live, 2018) * ''That Old Feeling'' (Cellar Live, 2018) * ''I'll Be Thanking Santa'' (Meetinghouse Records, 2019)

Notes

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Paterson, Ben 1982 births American jazz pianists American male pianists Musicians from Philadelphia Living people Jazz musicians from Pennsylvania 21st-century American pianists 21st-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians The Bobby Broom Organi-Sation members Origin Records artists