Ben + Brazil

UO Jazz alumni Ben Harris presents: Brazilian Jazz, original compositions, and a sneak peak of his set for the NFA Jazz Flute Competition this August Ben Harris saxophoneKerry Politzer pianoKC Isaman bassJay Veach drums Listen Here >>> benharrissound.com Like many musicians before him, Ben Harris’ musical journey began at age 6 with piano lessons. The piano nurtured Ben’s love of music, particularly Debussy, who to this day remains Ben’s chief-most influence. As a classical pianist, Ben was selected for the MTAC certificate of merit three times, awarded to California students who performed live in addition to a music theory and aural skills test. In 2016 the MTAC invited Ben, among a small number of students, to perform at their California State Convention in Los Angeles. After the retirement of his longtime piano teacher Ben turned his focus to the flute and saxophone. High School was Ben’s first exposure to playing jazz, where he quickly became enamored with improvisation. After receiving Bellarmine High School’s Louis Armstrong award for outstanding jazz senior, Ben was fully committed to pursuing jazz, doing so at the University of Oregon. Ben received his Bachelor’s of Jazz Studies in 2023, studying with Idit Shner, Steve Owen, and Joe Manis on saxophone. He also studied improvisation with Keith Brown, and spent two years in the flute studio studying with Jacqueline Cordova-Arrington. As a member of the Oregon Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Arts Oregon, UO’s top large ensemble and combo respectively, Ben has been fortunate to perform alongside Omar Thomas, Helen Sung, Remy LeBeouf, Francisco Torres, and Braxton Cook, among others. Ben returned to the University of Oregon in the fall of 2023 as a graduate employee, fulfilling teaching duties in the jazz department while earning a Master’s in Jazz Studies. In the winter of 2024 Ben was invited to compete in the North American Saxophone Alliance Jazz Competition during NASA’s biennial national conference. After competing live in Stillwater, Oklahoma against college students across North America, Ben placed as a semi-finalist. Later that summer of 2024 Ben was invited to the Carinthian International Jazz Award, a worldwide competition drawing from saxophonists under the age of 26. After competing live in Arnoldstein, Austria, Ben was awarded second place, meeting and performing with numerous European-based musicians including Danny Ziemann. Upon graduation, Ben moved north to Portland, Oregon. Here he teaches middle school music, private lessons, saxophone sectionals, high school big band, and summer jazz camp, including as faculty at the University of Oregon. A sought-after performer across genres, Ben regularly performs in music festivals across the country, linking up with singer songwriter Alaina Fidanzo, winner of the PFF songwriting contest in 2024, and Soul/R&B band BendreTheGiant. A founding member of BendretheGiant, the band has gotten extensive press in it’s short two year start, including as a top 50 finalist in NPR’s Tiny Desk competition. After refocusing on flute, combining his classical background with jazz chops, Ben has quickly become a force in jazz flute, earning an invite to the National Flute Association's Jazz Flute Competition. Online ticket purchases close one hour before showtime. If the show is NOT sold out, and tickets remain, they can be purchased directly at the box office door. Doors open 30 minutes prior to showtime.