Called “one of today's best young jazz musicians” by the Boston Globe, Allison is a “visionary composer, adventurous improviser, and strong organizational force [and] has emerged as a rising star over the past decade” (Jazz Times).

On Little Things Run The World, Allison pushes the boundaries once again — this time with a cinematic, rock-meets-Americana sound that defies easy classification. Allison and his band “Man Size Safe” blend the borders of rock and jazz with six of the bassist’s new original compositions plus guitarist Steve Cardenas’ “Language of Love” and a rendition of John Lennon’s “Jealous Guy.” Pieces such as the title track and “Respiration” reveal Allison’s adventurous writing, colorful melodic voicings, hypnotic grooves and a remarkable ensemble. The band mixes joyous exuberance and good-humored irreverence with textured grooves and an occasional political jab.

“I’ve been experimenting with fusing American rock, folk, and jazz elements into a cinematic whole for some time,” explains Allison. “‘Little Things Run The World’ represents a fuller realization of melodic, harmonic and rhythmic concepts I've been pursuing over the past several years.”

Allison demonstrated his forward-thinking vision and hands-on approach to his craft when he formed the Jazz Composers Collective at age twenty-five, a NY based musician-run, non-profit organization dedicated to constructing an environment where artists can explore and create new music. He has written music for film, national television and radio, including the theme for the National Public Radio (NPR) show On the Media and the score for Two Days, a play written by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Donald Margulies.

‘Little Things Run The World’ features Ben Allison (bass); Michael Sarin (drums); Steve Cardenas (guitar); Ron Horton (trumpet); and Michael Blake (sax on selected tracks).

Ben Allison is a “visionary composer, adventurous improviser, and strong organizational force on the New York City jazz scene, [and] has emerged as a rising star over the past decade” (JazzTimes).

With his groups Peace Pipe, Ben Allison Quartet, Medicine Wheel, the Kush Trio, and the Herbie Nichols Project (which he co-leads with pianist Frank Kimbrough) Ben has toured extensively throughout the US, Canada, Europe, and Brazil, winning fans and building new audiences with an adventurous yet accessible sound and a flair for the unexpected.

Called “one of today's best young jazz musicians” by the Boston Globe, Ben has released seven albums of original music - Cowboy Justice (2006), Buzz (2004), Peace Pipe (2002), Riding the Nuclear Tiger (2001), Third Eye (1999), and Medicine Wheel (1998) on Palmetto Records, and his 1996 debut Seven Arrows, on the Koch Jazz label - all of which showcase Ben's forward-thinking vision as a producer, composer, arranger, and bassist, and his hands-on approach to his craft.

Cited in the “Best Bassist” category of the 2005, 2006 and 2007 Downbeat Readers' Poll, Ben's work has not gone unnoticed by the press. Since 2003 Ben has been routinely listed in the Downbeat Critics' Poll in an extremely wide variety of rising star categories including "Bassist” (ranking #1 in 2005, 2006 and 2007), "Album," "Composer," "Acoustic Group," "Arranger," and "Jazz Artist of the Year," all of which is a testament to his dedication as a musician.

“I see the the whole process - from assembling a band, writing and work-shopping the music, recording and mastering the album, doing the artwork and writing the notes, and then touring the project - to be all part of the process of musical expression.” says Ben. “I enjoy every step as they all demand a certain kind of positive energy. And I get to collaborate with a wide range of very creative people.”

Ben's upcoming release Little Things Run The World (January 22, 2008, Palmetto Records) features the bandleader’s newest ensemble “Man Size Safe” and showcases the bassist’s passion for blurring the borders among rock, folk and jazz. His last album Cowboy Justice was #1 on the CMJ National Jazz radio charts for four consecutive weeks and remained in the top 20 for over four months. His previous four records achieved similar radio success, and were among the most played albums during the years in which they were released. The records garnered Ben six SESAC National Performance Awards, and were named among the best of the year by publications such as The New York Times, The Boston Globe, The Village Voice, Jazz Times, Jazz Journalists Association, Downbeat Critics Poll, All About Jazz, Coda (Canada), and Jazz Review (UK), among many others.


BIO

At the age of twenty-five, Ben formed the Jazz Composers Collective, a New York City-based musician-run non-profit organization dedicated to constructing an environment where artists can exercise their ideals of creating and risking through the development and exploration of new music. As the Artistic Director and a Composer-in-Residence of the Jazz Composers Collective, Ben produced or co- produced over 100 concerts and special events, including the Collective's annual concert series (which ran for eleven seasons), national and international tours by Collective artists, an on-going Collective residency at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA, NYC), and an annual "Jazz Composers Collective Festival" at the Jazz Standard, which has drawn international attention as a mainstay of New York City's musical life. As a member of the Collective, Ben has received commissioning, performing, and recording grants from Chamber Music America, the Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Aaron Copland Foundation, Meet the Composer, and the American Composers Forum.

Born in 1966 in New Haven, Connecticut, Ben has performed the world over with musicians ranging from oudist Ara Dinkjian to saxophonist Lee Konitz to legendary performance artist Joey Arias. Ben has appeared on over 40 albums and has written music for film, national television and radio, including the theme for the National Public Radio (NPR) show On the Media and the score for Two Days, a play written by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Donald Margulies.