Ben Monder


Ben Monder is an American modern Jazz guitarist.
WWW benmonder.com

Biography

Monder started playing guitar when he was eleven, after two years on violin. From 1979–84, he attended the Westchester Conservatory of Music, the University of Miami, and Queens College. One of his early jobs was in 1986 when he performed with Jack McDuff.
In 1995 he recorded his debut album, Flux, featuring drummer Jim Black and bassist Drew Gress. This was followed by the trio recording Dust and the quartet recording Excavation which added vocalist Theo Bleckmann. Bloom, a 2001 recording with saxophone player Bill McHenry, wasn't released until 2010. In between, he released Oceana, a genre-bending solo album, and The Distance, an album with pianist Chris Gestrin and drummer Dylan van der Schyff. In 2007, he recorded At Night with Theo Bleckmann and drummer Satoshi Takeishi. In 2013, Monder released Hydra on Sunnyside, featuring Bleckmann, John Pattitucci, Skúli Sverrisson, and Ted Poor. He made his debut on ECM Records as a leader with 2016's Amorphae, and played guitar on David Bowie's final studio album, Blackstar.
He has worked with Lee Konitz, David Bowie, Paul Motian, Chris Cheek, Tim Berne, David Binney, Theo Bleckmann, George Garzone, Jon Gordon, Julie Hardy, John Hollenbeck, Marc Johnson, Frank Kimbrough, Guillermo Klein, Dave Liebman, Michael Leonhart, Rebecca Martin, Donny McCaslin, Bill McHenry, Charles Pillow, Noah Preminger, Tim Ries, Pete Robbins, Josh Roseman, Maria Schneider, Kendra Shank, Toots Thielemans, Kenny Wheeler, Dan Willis, Miguel Zenón, and Patrick Zimmerli.
From 2002–2005, he taught at the New England Conservatory. As of August, 2021 he is a member of the Minneapolis-based jazz quartet The Bad Plus.

Discography

As leader

Flux Dust Excavation Oceana Hydra Amorphae Day After Day Live at the 55 Bar Live in Lisbon
  • ''Planetarium''

As co-leader

No Boat with Theo Bleckmann At Night with Theo Bleckmann Bloom with Bill McHenry
With The Bad PlusThe Bad Plus.
  • ''Complex Emotions''

As sideman

With Theo BleckmannOrigami Elegy
With Antonio ArnedoTravesia Orígenes Encuentros Colombia
With Guillermo KleinLos Guachos II Los Guachos III Live In Barcelona Filtros Carrera Los Guachos V Cristal
With Donny McCaslinSeen from Above Soar In Pursuit Declaration Blow
With Bill McHenryRest Stop Graphic Featuring Paul Motian Roses Ghosts of the Sun
With Paul MotianEurope Holiday for Strings Garden of Eden
With Noah PremingerDry Bridge Road Haymaker Some Other Time
With Maria SchneiderEvanescence Coming About Allegresse Days of Wine and Roses Concert in the Garden Sky Blue Data Lords
With Patrick ZimmerliExplosion Expansion The Book of Hours
With others