Pianist and Composer Ben Winkelman Announces the Release of Sixth Album Heartbeat, out September 15 (OA2) Pianist Ben Winkelman’s sixth album as a leader, Heartbeat, features jazz heavyweights Gilad Hekselman, Matt Penman and Obed Calvaire, and comprises nine originals, four played by piano trio, five by quartet with guitar. Written mostly in the early … Read More
By: D. Oscar Groomes, O’s Place Ben Winkelman is an Aussie jazz pianist who found himself in New York on the jazz scene with a strong penchant for Modern Jazz with Latin, Afro-Cuban flavors. He leads a strong trio with bassist Matt Penman and Obed Calvaire on drums. All of the music is original except … Read More
George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly The title of this album fits well, as pianist Ben Winkelman creates a symbiotic balance between interplay and soloing with bassist Matt Penman and drummer Obed Calvaire on this ten song collection of originals plus a cover. Of the latter, Thelonious Monk’s “Bye-Ya” is a crisp and spacious rendition, while … Read More
By Geno Thackara, All About Jazz Ben Winkelman‘s fascinating trajectory has taken him from Australia to New York with a most stimulating detour through Cuba. With world-spanning roots spread over all those territories, his approach to the keys insistently leans bright and rhythmic, which is an absolute delight for listeners who enjoy their tropical sunshine … Read More
Andrew Gilbert, San Francisco Classical Voice Ben Winkelman Trio | April 30–May 1 I wasn’t familiar with Australian-reared, New York pianist Ben Winkelman until receiving a copy of his recently released fifth album Balance (OA2 Records), which left me determined to catch him in performance. A startlingly impressive trio session focusing on his original tunes, the album brims with … Read More
Dave Rogers, WTJU Ben Winkelman Trio – Balance (OA2): Pianist/composer Ben Winkelman offers his fifth release and it is quite fine. He states the he was been “developing a concept for piano trio that seeks an elusive balance between composition and improvisation, structure and spontaneity, ideas and emotions….looking for ways to feature the three instruments, not only as … Read More
By: Dan Bilawksy, All About Jazz Jazz, much like life, is an art of balance, a forever dance on the scales which keep our sanity and existence in check. Form must always reckon with freedom, scripts and spontaneity are bound by mutual understanding, and intellect blossoms truest as it holds the heart in high regard. … Read More
By: Ed Enright, DownBeat With the release of his sixth album as a leader, Australian-born, New York-based pianist Ben Winkelman continues to develop his concept of a piano trio whose primary artistic goal is to strike a balance between composition and improvisation. Bassist Matt Penman and drummer Obed Calvaire—both of whom never had played with … Read More
Award-winning jazz pianist and composer Ben Winkelman will be embarking on an extensive spring tour which will take him to Stony Brook NY, Washington DC, Montreal, Toronto, Detroit, Milwaukee, Chicago, Cleveland OH, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Winkelman’s Philadelphia show will feature bass player Desmond White and drummer Obed Calvaire and the remaining dates … Read More
Matt Micucci, Jazziz Melbourne-raised, New York City-based award-winning pianist-composer Ben Winkelman released his new album, Balance, on March 15 via OA2 Records. The new record is a collection of nine Winkelman original compositions plus a reworking of “Bye-Ya” by piano legend Thelonious Monk. It also finds him playing alongside drummer Obed Calvaire and bassist Matt Penman and … Read More
