The Ben Markley Big Band will be performing brand new arrangements of Ari Hoenig’s music written for this band and for these performances. The repertoire will consist of pieces from some of Ari’s most well known albums including The Painter, Bert’s Playground, and Punk Bop. Ben Markley has performed with Brian Lynch, Greg Osby, Eddie Henderson, Terell Stafford, and George Garzone. Markley is active as a composer and arranger with many big band and vocal jazz charts published through UNC Jazz Press. Recent arranging commissions include the Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia and Wyoming Jazz Educators All-State Jazz Band. Compositions from Markleyʼs first two albums have earned him ASCAP Young Jazz Composers Awards. Markley was selected to participate in the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead program held at the Kennedy Center. Markley’s book A Practical Approach to Improvisation – The David Hazeltine Method was published by Jamey Aebersold Jazz in December of 2014.

Ari Hoenig – drums
Ben Markley – piano
Evan Gregor – bass
Steve Kovalcheck – guitar
Wil Swindler – alto sax
Scott Turpen – alto sax
Peter Sommer – tenor sax
John Gunther – tenor sax
Sam Williams – bari sax
Pete Olstad – trumpet
Greg Gisbert – trumpet
Dan Jonas – trumpet
Al Hood – trumpet
Adam Bartzcak – trombone
Paul McKee – trombone
Rob Borger – trombone
Jon Gauer – bass trombone