My name is Ben Bryden, I am a saxophone player and composer and recent graduate of Birmingham Conservatoire's jazz course. I am currently based in New York for a few months, but will be returning to Scotland in the autumn
I began playing saxophone at age 12 as part of Dumfries Youth Jazz Group and at 15 I began studying with one of Scotland's foremost saxophonists, Laura MacDonald. Laura gave me the knowledge and the confidence which saw me through to play with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland and the Tommy Smith Youth Jazz Orchestra.
Since gaining a place at Birmingham Conservatoire in 2004, I have had the opportunity to learn from some fantastic musicians - Mike Williams, Julian Seigel, Jean Toussaint, Hans Koller, Liam Noble, Phil Robson to name but a few.
I regularly perform in various groups of assorted genres, for example: Mike Fletcher's 'More Or Less Ensemble', Aaron Diaz's 'Zappajazz', The Paul Memmory Quintet and many more. However, my main focus is my own band...
The Ben Bryden Band has latterly featured original compositions influenced by the likes of Brian Blade, Kenny Wheeler and Dave Holland, and in recent years has appeared in various places: Lockerbie Jazz Festival 2006 and 2007, Glasgow Jazz Festival Homegrown 2007, Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2007 and 2008 and many more. The current line-up consists of: Mike Fletcher-ss, Adam Jackson-as, Andy Bunting-p, Rob Anstey-b, and John Randall-d
Recently I also established the Dumfries Jazz Clamjamphrie, a brand new music festival for South West Scotland which was aimed at giving young people the chance to see top quality jazz on their doorstep (a very rare occurrence in Dumfries!). This featured New York drummer Ari Hoenig as well as Scottish legend Bobby Wellins.
If you like what you have heard here, and would like to know more, please feel free to get in touch either by sending me a message, or by email: [email protected]. I will add new tracks as and when they occur, so keep checking back!
Ben.
"Well-defined, tightly executed compositions" - Rob Adams, The Herald
"Hot and fast rising sax player with dynamite band of new talent" - Bill Kyle, The Jazz Bar, Edinburgh
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