{"id":69,"date":"2011-12-29T21:59:26","date_gmt":"2011-12-30T02:59:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.benstapp.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=69"},"modified":"2026-01-15T23:06:37","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T04:06:37","slug":"home","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.benstapp.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=69","title":{"rendered":"Bio"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"FullTubaCatherineHammond\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The music of composer and tubist Ben Stapp combines avant garde and traditional sounds with abstract narrative arriving at something truly his own. After a two year sojourn in Portugal, Stapp relocated to New York in 2007. He then released a trio\u00a0recording that \u201c[marked] the debut of a fresh new sound”(Troy Collins). Expanding his expressions with larger ensembles (the Zozimos) and sounds, he went on to write a two hour opera, Myrrha’s Red Book. This was performed at Roulette where he received his second commission there and became a Jerome Artist. The album was praised as “unlike anything reviewed in recent times”(Bruce Gallanter). \u201cHe has a daring that few artists possess”(Cisco Bradley). His recent release, Mind Creature Sound Dasein(FSR) features a wide range of expressive possibilities on tuba: \u201cAfter the surprise comes the pleasure and the certainty that we are facing one of the most delicious records not only of the year, but of the last decade\u201d(Rui Eduardo Paes).<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben Stapp studied tuba with Tommy Johnson at UCLA, Roger Bobo at RNCM, and Sergio Carolino in Portugal. He is winner of the Bob Stewart Tuba Competition and was a featured performer for Howard Johnson\u2019s tribute concert at Merkin Hall. He records regularly with many groups around NYC. Engagements include William Parker\u2019s Migration of Silence into and out of the Tone World (AUM), as leader a trio CD with Joe Morris and Stephen Haynes(FSR), Stephen Haynes Pomegranate(Atlantis), Joel Harrison’s Big Band(Fresh Sound), Steven Bernstein’s Universal Melody Brass Band, ICE (International Contemporary Ensemble), American Composers Orchestra (ACO), Red Barrat, Banda de los Muertos, Mario Pavone\u2019s Accordion Project, with Satoshi Takeishi, Tony Malaby, ECCE Ensemble, Nate Wooley, TILT, OK Orchestra, Cumbia River Band and as principal tubist for Chelsea Symphony. Stapp is also a proud NYC public school band director.<\/p>\n

A Short History<\/strong><\/p>\n

His own groups, which feature Stapp’s compositions, include a trio record (2008)\u00a0with Satoshi Takeishi and Tony Malaby called Ecstasis. All About Jazz said it was a\u00a0“debut of a fresh new Voice,” and a musician, “most certainly to watch.”<\/p>\n