Ben Turner Organ Trio featuring Walter Blanding

7:30 doors, 8PM show

$20 general admission

$10 students

Featuring: Ben Turner (guitar), Jordan Anderson (organ), Michael Reed (drums), Walter Blanding (tenor saxophone)

*BYOB: You can bring beer or wine from Sleepwalker (next-door to The Robin) to this show. Non-alcoholic beverages are also allowed.

*COVID-19: Please stay home if you're feeling unwell. Vaccinated folks = mask optional. Masks required if unvaccinated. We recommend that attendees wear masks when not actively drinking

About Ben Turner:

Ben, a graduate of the Boyer College of Music at Temple University, is a guitarist, composer, and educator based in the Detroit area where he maintains a busy schedule as a leader, sideman, and teacher. Ben is currently pursuing his master’s degree in jazz studies at Michigan State University as a graduate assistant under Professor Randy Napoleon.

Here are some video examples of the material, featuring a different roster of musicians: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqPlX81Qr8en9XeimkNSlHA-iwRBtuc5J

Ben has studied with Peter Bernstein, Bobby Broom, Mike Moreno, Director of Jazz Studies at Temple University Terell Stafford, Tim Warfield, Dick Oatts, Dave Wong, among others. As part of an exchange program through Temple University, Ben spent four months in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, studying with Jesse van Ruller at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. While there, he was afforded opportunities to travel and perform around Europe.

Ben has played with musicians such as Adam Niewood, Behn Gillece, Byron Landham, Dwight Adams, John Swana, John Webber, Larry McKenna, Marcus Elliot, Matthew Parrish, Michael Dease, Mike Boone, and Rodney Whitaker. He has also performed at venues including The Appel Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, the Millenium Stage at the Kennedy Center, the Kimmel Center, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, as well as clubs around Philadelphia and Detroit.

Ben was one of two guitarists accepted into the 2018 and 2022 class of Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. While there he worked with Kennedy Center Artistic Director for Jazz, Jason Moran, as well as an esteemed faculty. Jazz Ahead ultimately concluded with performances of all original music at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage and Terrace Theatre.

Ben auditioned and was selected for the 2018 Telluride Jazz All-Stars Ensemble which

performed at the 2018 Telluride Jazz Festival in Telluride, Colorado, the 2020 Mid-Atlantic

Collegiate Jazz Orchestra, which performed at the 2020 Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival, and the 2021 Brevard Jazz Institute.

Ben received an award in Downbeat magazine for outstanding performance (undergraduate college) as part of the 2020 Downbeat Student Music Awards and was selected to participate in the 2020 JAS Academy in Aspen, Colorado.

Most recently, Ben was awarded the 2022 BMI Future Jazz Master Award along with jazz musician Cler Diaz (a first ever tie), and the 2022 U.S. Army Blues Solo Competition (Collegiate Division). He was also a finalist in the 2022 International Strings Competition and 2019 Wilson Center Jazz Guitar Competition.

Ben has worked as a teaching assistant for Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Summer Jazz Academy at Bard College and the COTA Jazz Camp in Delaware Water Gap, PA, in addition to teaching privately and for MSU Community Music School, Detroit. Ben most recently joined the faculty of Interlochen Arts Academy in Interlochen, MI as adjunct instructor of jazz guitar.