Ben Sidran
Pianist, singer/songwriter, producer, author, and host Ben Sidran is a literate performer known for his engaging, jazz-influenced sound and laid-back, conversational style. Essentially a pianist/vocalist with a storytelling approach in the tradition of Mose Allison, Sidran grew from a supporting player with rocker Steve Miller to a solo performer, and to an award-winning radio and TV host. Along the way, he has produced albums for such luminaries as Allison, Van Morrison, Michael Franks, Rickie Lee Jones, and others. He has also hosted shows for National Public Radio and VH1.
Born in Chicago in 1943, Sidran grew up in Racine, Wisconsin. In the early '60s, he played with Steve Miller and Boz Scaggs in a band called the Ardells at the University of Wisconsin. After Miller moved to San Francisco and secured a recording contract, he called on old friend Sidran to join him in the Steve Miller Band following the departure of original keyboardist Jim Peterman. Sidran contributed on the keys and as songwriter on several Miller albums beginning with Brave New World in 1969, co-writing the classic "Space Cowboy" and three other tunes on that LP. He also authored "Steve Miller's Midnight Tango" on Number 5 and collaborated with Miller on several other tunes through the years. He also produced his friend's underappreciated Recall the Beginning...A Journey from Eden in 1972.
Sidran received a Ph.D. in philosophy/musicology, writing his doctoral thesis on African-American culture and music in the United States. The thesis was published to positive critical response in 1971 as Black Talk. Since 1972, he has released a number of solo albums in a cool, easy swinging style similar to Allison, including 1976's Free in America, 1977's The Doctor Is In, and 1978's A Little Kiss in the Night. While his early albums relied on acoustic instruments and lyrical references to his musical heroes, his later releases used electronic instruments and tasty synthesizers for an interesting sound best presented on albums like 1985's On the Cool Side and 1988's Too Hot to Touch.
Through the years, Sidran and Miller have remained close friends, popping up from time to time on one another's recordings or live performances. In 1988, Sidran co-produced one of Miller's most interesting latter-day recordings, Born 2B Blue, a collection of jazz standards dressed up in the same cool, low-key arrangements Sidran employs on his own albums. Also during the '80s, Sidran began expanding his profile by hosting shows for National Public Radio, including the Jazz Alive series, for which he earned a Peabody Award.
During the '90s, Sidran released a number of albums on his own Go Jazz label, including 1994's Life's a Lesson, 1996's Mr. P's Shuffle, and 1999's The Concert for García Lorca. He also appeared on television, hosting the Ace Award-winning New Visions program on VH1. Also during this period, he collaborated with Van Morrison and Georgie Fame on the tribute album Tell Me Something: The Songs of Mose Allison. He then formed the Nardis label with his son, and delivered such efforts as 2004's Nick's Bump, 2006's Live à Fip, 2009's Dylan Different, and 2013's Don't Cry for No Hipster. In 2017 Sidran returned with Picture Him Happy, a philosophical production centered on the myth of Sisyphus and featuring backing from guitarist Will Bernard, bassist Will Lee, saxophonist John Ellis, and others.
© Jim Newsom /TiVo
-
Nick's Bump
Contemporary Jazz - Released by Go Jazz on Jan 1, 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Cool Paradise
Contemporary Jazz - Released by Go Jazz on Jan 1, 1990
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Have you met... Barcelona?
Ben Sidran|Johnny Griffin|Jimmy Woode|Ben Riley
Contemporary Jazz - Released by Go Jazz on Jan 1, 1987
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Blue Camus
Bebop - Released by Bonsaï Music on Nov 3, 2014
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Who's the Old Guy Now
Vocal Jazz - Released by Bonsaï Music on Nov 20, 2020
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Old Songs for the New Depression
Contemporary Jazz - Released by Go Jazz on Jan 1, 1982
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Don't Cry for No Hipster
Vocal Jazz - Released by Bonsaï Music on Nov 20, 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Walk Pretty
Ben Sidran|Bob Rockwell Quartet
Contemporary Jazz - Released by Go Jazz on Jan 1, 2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dylan Different Live In Paris At The New Morning
Vocal Jazz - Released by Bonsaï Music on Nov 1, 2010
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Mr. P's Shuffle
Contemporary Jazz - Released by Go Jazz on Jan 1, 1996
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ben There, Done That [Live Around the World] - Digital Sampler (Live)
Vocal Jazz - Released by Bonsaï Music on Nov 28, 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
It's All Been Done Before
Vocal Jazz - Released by Bonsaï Music on May 29, 2020
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
El Elefante
Contemporary Jazz - Released by Go Jazz on Jan 1, 2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Picture Him Happy
Vocal Jazz - Released by Bonsaï Music on Mar 31, 2017
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Time Getting Tougher Than Tough
Vocal Jazz - Released by Bonsaï Music on May 15, 2020
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Doctor Is In
Pop/Rock - Released by Legacy Recordings on Mar 29, 1977
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Live at FIP
Contemporary Jazz - Released by Bonsaï Music on Oct 1, 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo