Throughout his career Ben Bailey has performed and recorded with such artists such as Houston Person, Rodney Jones, Jon Burr, The Four Freshmen, Freddie Hubbard, Marcus Roberts, the Joe Gransden Big Band, Dave Hungate, and Greg McLean. He has performed on stages and Jazz Festivals throughout the world. By any measure, Ben has earned his wings. We hope you will visit www.benbaileymusic.com Artists: Ben Bailey (Drums); Duffy Jackson (Executive Producer); Roy Agee ( Trombone 1); Kenny Anderson (Tenor Sax 1); Rahsaan Barber (Tenor Sax 2); Roland Barber (Trombone 3); Roger Bissell (Trombone 1); Mike Casteel (Trumpet 3); Matt Davich (Lead Alto); Bruce Dudley (Piano); Joe Gross (Trumpet 4); Ike Harris (Bass); Steve Herrman (Trumpet 2); Bill Huber (Trombone 2); David Hungate (Guitar); Dave Loucky (Bass Trombone); Tom McGinley (Baritone Sax); Gary Miller (Trombone 3); Steve Patrick (Trumpet 1); Ben Polk ( BassTrombone) ; Robby Shankle (Alto Sax 2); Denis Solee (Tenor Sax); Jim Williamson (Trumpet 4, Flugelhorn); CJ Boggs (Chief Recording Engineer); Tom Knox (Mastering) Earning His Wings Drummer Ben Bailey tells the story as if it happened yesterday. “I clearly remember the evening I decided that I would one day sit behind the drums for a big band of world class jazz musicians and swing my heart out.” Bailey goes on, “I was in high school. Count Basie’s Orchestra was performing at a Local school. I went to hear an amazing jazz orchestra being kicked and swung by drummer, Duffy Jackson. He showed passion and a complete mastery of power and control.” This sense of Duffy’s musicianship and personality was instantly and permanently etched in Ben’s mind. “The way Duffy drove the Basie band elevated everyone around him, the band and the audience. He made the music come alive like NOTHING I had ever experienced. All I knew was that I wanted to do THAT someday.” Ben has always been a musician in his heart and a jazz drummer in his soul. Being trained at the legendary Berklee College of Music shows Ben’s combination of natural talent and the kind of work ethic it takes to make it into through such a rigorous program. A Bird Takes Flight One night at an Atlanta jazz jam session, I asked Ben if he knew of Duffy Jackson who now lives in Nashville. Ben’s response was unforgettable. His face beamed as he described the drummer who embodied everything great about a jazz drumming, entertaining, and what it means to be a gracious human soul. I told Ben about an idea I had to ask Duffy to perform and do a Jazz master class in Atlanta. Like a rim shot, the idea jolted Ben’s passion and enthusiasm. A Bird was about to take flight… Soaring “Luck is where preparedness meets opportunity.” This philosophy proved itself in May of 2011 when the legendary big band drummer Duffy Jackson traveled to Atlanta to be a featured artist with a local big band in which Ben played the drums. An amazing week of music ensued and a relationship of two kindred spirits was forged. Ben was absolutely soaring. A Bird in the Hand To appreciate and understand the meaning of a significant gift, one must be ready to receive it. A few weeks later Duffy called from Nashville with a very special invitation. Duffy invited Ben to come to Nashville and make a recording his Nashville Big Band. This band is comprised of the world’s finest all-star studio musicians. “A Bird in the Hand” is the culmination of an idea, a dream, and responding to the call when an opportunity lands in your nest. I hope you enjoy this CD of Ben taking Flight! Bruce Pulver, Writer and Jazz Critic, May 2014 The CD is collection of songs that are jazz classics a few of which have never been recorded before. Billy’s Blues for example, was selected because of its furious swinging tempo. It was written by Billy Byers and is a buried treasure. There are no known recordings of this particular arrangement only sections that have been recorded as part of other arrangements in the Count Basie orchestra. Why Bother is a fantastic Matt Harris composition originally recorded by the Buddy Rich Band at a very fast tempo. Duffy had Ben record this version with a much slower and funkier tempo to enable the band to sit deeply within the groove. Bailey’s and Coffee, written for Ben by Trombonist and arranger Marcus Lewis, is fast tune based on Rhythm changes.