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Ben Grossman
Ben Grossman is a vielle à roue* player, percussionist, composer and improviser living in Guelph, Ontario. He grew up listening to a wide variety of music, building homemade synthesizers, effects and tape loops and playing electric guitar in his parents’ suburban basement. Through his teens, he worked extensively with composer/instrument creator/educator Barry Prophet, building new acoustic instruments and composing and improvising in experimental percussion projects. Through percussion and his interest in non-equal tuning systems, Ben became involved at various times in the study, performance and recording of traditional Turkish, Arabic, Irish, Balkan, and French music. In 1997 he studied Turkish music in Istanbul and, since taking up the vielle, he has done workshops and lessons with Valentin Clastrier, Matthias Loibner, Maxou Heintzan and Simon Wascher as well as working on Deep Listeningtm and improvisation with Anne Bourne.
Ben has over 80 CD credits, and has performed and recorded with many ensembles over the years including Mercan Dede, the Toronto Consort, GaPa, Ensemble Polaris, The Altan Yildiz Orkestar, Ima Ensemble, Duo O’Connor-Grossman. BT, James Keelaghan, Bobby Watt, Basic Elements, Aradia, Loreena McKennitt, Fools Dance, Oliver Schroer and the Stewed Tomatoes, Laurel MacDonald, Alison Melville’s Bird Project, Anne Lederman, Pilgrim's Trail Mix, Pat O’Gorman, Laridenn, Kitty's Kitchen, Ensemble Ben Trobar, Doula, Rhea's Obsession, Ensemble Polaris, and Joyce’s Folly. His work can also be heard in TV and film soundtracks, including the Patty Jenkins film, Monster. Ben toured recently with electronic music pioneer BT, world music powerhouse Loreena McKennitt while continuing to work on other projects. His first solo album, Macrophone was released in 2007 and features a unique two CD form for simultaneous, aleatoric playback.
* AKA Drehleier, hurdy gurdy, or zanfoña.
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