My Parents: Jonathon and Linda Shepherd.
In New Zealand:
Leigh Jackson, Nick Tipping, Tim Robertson, Charmaine Ford, Vaughn Roberts, Roger Fox, Wade Sharp, Owen Clarke, George Westrupp, Lance Phillip, Anthony Waits, Peter Koopman, Robert Edgecombe, Kirsten McKensie, Matty Siew, Matt Mulholland, Chris Sylvester, Max Stowers, Caleb Robinson.
International:
Chick Corea, Keith Jarret, Herbie Hancock, Lyle Mays, Chester Thompson, Joe Sample, Russel Ferante, Bill Evans, Michel Petruchiani, Alan Broadbent, Joe Zawinal, Joe Henderson, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Cannonball Aderley, Joshua Redman, Michael Brecker, Bob Mintzer, Wayne Shorter, Grover Washington Jr, Wallace Rooney, Randy Brecker, Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, Dizzy Gillespie, Roy Hargrove, Nicholas Payton, Joe Pass, Jim Hall, Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Rosenwinkle, George Benson, Steve Vai, Larry Carlton, David Gilmore, Lee Ritneour, Joe Satriani, George Harrison, Stanley Jordan, Michael Hedges, Greg Howe, Frank Gambale, Pat Metheny, Mike Stern, Scott Henderson, Al DiMeola, John Maclaughlin, Christian McBride, Victor Wooten, Jaco Pastorius, Steve Harris, Stanley Clarke, Jeff Schimdt, Michael Manring, Rocco Prestia, Bill Dickens, Flea, Charlie Haden, Ray Brown, Milt Hinton, Oteil Burbridge, John Patitucci, Jimmy Haslip, Richard Bona, Gerald Veasley, Victor Bailey, Steve Bailey,Billy Sheehan, Tony Levin, Rufus Reid, Eddie Gomez, Stu Hamm, Adam Nitti, Dominique DiPiazza, Paul McCartney, Marcus Miller, Rhonda Smith, Gail Ann Dorsey, Paul Chambers, Ron Carter, Larry Graham, Louis Johnson, Bobby Watson, Will Lee, Stefan Lesard, Stanley Banks, Anthony Jackson, Brian Bromberg, Guy Pratt, Pino Palldino, Nathan East, Jeff Berlin, Jack Bruce, Roger Glover, John Enthwistle, Darryl Jones, Chuck Rainey, Verdine White, Abe Laboriel, Lee Sklar, Steve Rodby, Dave Weckl, Buddy Rich, Antonio Sanchez, David Garabaldi, Dennis Chambers, Tony Williams, Lenny White, Kelly Gravely, Harvey Mason, Billy Cobham, Gerry Brown, Alex Acuna, Peter Erskine, Greg Bisonette, Thomas Lang, Antonio Sanchez.
Ben Shepherd first started out playing drums at age five by being inspired by drum legends such as Steve Gadd, Dave Weckl, Alex Acuna just to name a few. By the time he was 7 years old he took up the Bass Guitar after Hearing Stanley Clarke and Jaco Pastorius. Ben kept playing the Bass Night and Day and eventually got put into the school band after the original Bass Player moved schools. The music that the school band played was mainly rock orientated so he was listening to the music of Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Black Sabboth, Pink Floyd, Judas Priest, Deep Purple, The Who, Cream and many more. At that stage he had developed a good sense of groove for his age from studying and listening to the Bass work of Jack Bruce, John Entwisle, Guy Pratt and also Stanley Clarke and Jaco Pastorius. Ben continued playing in the school bands in primary school till he entered Intermediate, which is where his Jazz career began. The music teacher was keen to start up a Jazz group, so to get them influenced she took them to see a lunch time Jazz concert at the Massey Jazz School where Ben saw Paul Dyne play for the first time and instantly wanted to play Jazz.
Since the age of 12 Ben has been playing Jazz gigs on both Upright and Electric Bass in and out of Wellington. He has played with musicians such as:
Leigh Jackson
Kirsten MacKenzie
Roger Sellers
Josh Hindmarsh
Anita Van Dyke
George Westrupp
Anthony Waitts
Charmaine Ford
Lance Phillip
James Wylie
Miles Crayford
Matty Siew
Chris Silvester
Matt Mulholland
Barrett Hocking
Caleb Robinson
Andre Paris
Steve Bremner
Dale Jelliman
Owen Clarke
Steven Barry
Wade Sharp
Myele Manzanza
Vaughn Roberts
Blair Latham
Nick Van Dyke
Kimbra
Dylan Elise
Chris Wratt
Hayden Lyney
Jared Tong
Matt Dal Din
Micheal Crawford
Maurice Phillips
Leon Phillipsen
Jarden Crafer
Jimmy Garden
Andrew Bruce
Lorenzo Pradel
Richard Wise
Daniel Hayles
Ze’ev Dikvert
Zak Dikvert
Neil Billington
Ian Parker
The New Zealand High Schools Jazz Orchestra
The Wellington Schools Symphonic Band
The Royal New Zealand Central Airforce Band
The Royal New Zealand Central Airforce Big Band
and many more...
In 2008 Ben will be studying at the California Institute of The Arts (CalArt) In Valencia, California with Jazz legends Charlie Haden, Alphonso Johnson, Larry Koonse, Joe LaBarbera and much more. Ben is the youngest to get accepted to the programme aswell as: the only international Bass Player, the first Jazz musician form New Zealand to study there and in CalArt history the first international student to get in that is just coming out of high school. Ben will be spending his time there doing a 4 year degree in Jazz Bass. You will be sure to see him in the near future.
BEn!!! its been ages man!! u probably dont even remember me....hope ur doing well, i see ur doing great things with ur music!! Keep doing ur thing my friend:)
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Hey! Welcome on board of madaMKapitano Special MY-SPACE KING-SHIP.I'm 50% BUSINESS & ARTIST.While I improve my business skills,I use my ART to network, explore the artistic industry.I like to gain personal experience on all the different topics that I will be dealing with in the nearest future. My first song TREASURE ISLAND is out now on www. beatport. com SEARCH for: madaMKey-All or just GOOGLE: madamkey Watch OUT: WMC 2009 MIAMI MUSIC CONFERENCE FINAL MIAMI LINE UP ::: Poolside Sessions @ Pilikia Bar - (WMC) @ South Seas Hotel ::: www. myspace. com/openbarmusic Poolside Sessions @ Pilikia Bar - (WMC) South Seas Hotel, Miami, Mar 24-29 http://miamieventswmc. ning. com/ Grab your sunscreen, your hottest pair of shades,your sexiest swimsuit and get ready for the BEST WEEK EVER!!! madaMK with KoK-oc Ltd supports: Media Services NYC & The Joint present Poolside Sessions at the South Seas Hotel. This is a week of pool party and the biggest press event to hit South Beach this year at the conference. Directly off the beach, The South Seas is a prime event location and destination for the jet-setters, beach bums, pool honeys, house heads, and sun worshipers alike. Expect live performances, super-model drama, and the best house music you've ever heard in your life. Pimp out all week, and do nothing poolside or get your network on at the highly anticipated press/media GMS event. Drink your mojito with the best in the industry, bask in a hammock, or do cannonballs off the dive. The DJs will do the work. LET'S HAVE SOME ROYAL FUN-key-TIME Let’s CURE the planet while DANCING,SINGING&PERFORMING the REAL thing! Love MK 3kS!
Hey cuz, dont know if you check your mail or not, but if not i sent you an e-mail.
Was that drum into on the version of red clay you have posted straight from the video cam? It sounds mean! mad beastie boys. Might use that on my next album project lol
Yeah dude. Back in NZ till october then moving over to the states. Could go back to my old job in nashville but wanna try living up north this time. Whats your email dude? Keep in touch and we'll hook up in the states yo!!!
Hey Ben A pleasure to work on your Bass. You play it so well you make it look easy. Great touch and beautiful melodies. Your a gifted musician. Cheers Roger Mac
So you've left our shores for good ae? I hope you're livin' it up already like the diva you are! :P. Oh and guess what tune I've got on my page? Good ole "Fire of Love" Thanks for that :)
Yo Ben Shepherd! Check out my new site www. percieve. co. nz It's pretty much a document of a dude tryna make it in rap, without any industry machine or money behind him, could make for an interesting read if that's what you're into...or if you're bored! Shot!
Hey Ben, thanks for the add. When are you moving to the states?
P.S- if you are wondering who this is, its Sean Crookes from Tawa College. I play in a band with other Tawa College members-Dylan Tyerman (you used to teach him).
Actually he emailed them to you. I'm guessing they didn't get through. You were a CC on the email he sent me. I'll email them through to ya if you want.
Cheers for your band comment. Good luck for your gig tomorrow night!
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