Quick Facts
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Ben Paterson (born June 23, 1982) is an American jazz pianist, organist and composer.
Early life
Paterson graduated from the Settlement Music School 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, where he joined the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity.
Later life and career
Starting in 2005, Paterson began working as a pianist for Von Freeman, 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, Buddy Guy, and Steely Dan, at the 2010 Montreal Jazz Fest, 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 will be on a European Tour during 2018.
Two of Paterons's CD releases made JazzWeek's list of commercial radio airplay, with Breathing Space spending a total of 24 weeks on the list and reaching a position of No. 46 on January 9, 2008, and Essential Elements spending 28 weeks on the list and reaching No. 17 on March 24, 2014.
Paterson was the winner of the inaugural Ellis Marsalis Jazz Piano Competition, held in 2018. The prize included $25,000 cash, a recording contract with ELM Records, and further career opportunities.
Discography
- Breathing Space (OA2 Records, 2007 – a division of Origin Records)
- Blues for Oscar (Meetinghouse Records, 2012)
- Essential Elements (Maxjazz Records, 2013)
- For Once in My Life (Origin Records, 2015) organ trio
- That Old Feeling (Cellar Live Records, 2017)
- Live at Van Gelder's (Cellar Live Records, 2018) organ trio
