Although trained as a classical/orchestral tubist with legendary pedagogues, Tommy Johnson and Roger Bobo, Ben Stapp began his professional career recording for the improvised music label Clean Feed with the likes of Herb Robertson, Alipio Neto, Ken Filiano and Michael T.A. Thompson. His first project as leader took him on tour in Portugal and then finally to New York to record with Tony Malaby and Satoshi Takeishi. With the self release Mr. Stapp was quickly recognized by All About Jazz, as “most certainly one to watch” and “the debut of a fresh new voice.” The Village Voice gave it an Honorable mention and the New York Times greeted it as a “rugged trio.” Since his move to New York he has been composing and performing with his new mixed ensemble projects – Zozimos, and has played at the Stone, the Tea Lounge, Cornelia Street Cafe and Roulette among others. Ben Stapp plays and subs with such tuba luminaries like Howard Johnson, Bob Stewart and Marcus Rojas. With various groups he has played at the South Bay Jazz Festival, House of Blues, Radio City, Discover Jazz Festival in Burlington, New York Gypsy Festival, the Craw Fish Festival, the Annual Connecticut Jazz Composers and Improvisors Festival and International Jazz festivals in Europe and South America.

Ben Stapp is the tubist in Martin Vejerano’s Chia’s Dance Party and composer and tubist for the Zozimos Collective.

He is also a composer and performer of classical music. He has played with many pick up orchestras and chamber ensembles in New York including the NY Philharmonia at Symphony Space, featuring concertos written for and played by David Krakauer and Karine Hovhannisyan and written by and performed by Marcel Khalife. His engagements also inlude the Christ Church Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, performing Mahler 2, the Sheep Island Ensemble playing Mahler 1 at Trinity Church, the TILT brass ensemble premiering Goebbels Herkules at IBEAM and several brass quintet demonstration/performances at NYU with Sean Reed’s Brass Quintet. His piece Atsumori for 2 flutes, clarinet, cello and piano will by performed in April by Opus Nine.