Benjamin Boone

Born: October 19, 1963

Saxophonist and composer Benjamin Boone's Origin Records album with US Poet Laureate Philip Levine, The Poetry of Jazz, was called “an album of unmistakable… historic importance” (UK Vibe), “a master class in the combining of different art forms…an essay in complementarity” (All About Jazz), and voted #3 “Best Album of 2018” in DownBeat Magazine’s 83rd annual Readers Poll. DownBeat noted, “despite the star turns [guests Branford Marsalis, Chris Potter, Greg Osby and Tom Harrell], Boone not only distinguishes himself with uncluttered, affecting orchestrations, but by passionately balancing intellect and emotion.” All About Jazz echoed, “these guest artists might be the attraction for the jazz listener, and Levine for the poetry fan, but that would miss the extraordinary music both written and performed by Boone.”  The album was featured on National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered,” a Staff Pick in The Paris Review, and on Amazon’s “Hot New Releases” list for months. He served as a U.S. Fulbright Scholar to Ireland (2022-23), Ghana (2017-18), and the Republic of Moldova (2005), and is a Professor of Music at California State University Fresno.