Ben Griffin

A native of Springfield, MA, Ben Griffin has led a varied musical career spanning several genres and styles. Ben first came to prominent attention as low brass soloist for the Tony Award winning theater show Blast! after attending the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.  A member of the Original Cast in West End of London in 1999, he continued with the first national tour and Broadway run of the show until 2001, in addition performing on 7 different instruments. 

Ben settled in New York City in 2001 and soon became an in-demand trombonist, performing in a variety of NYC based institutions, including with the Big Apple Circus, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the Mingus Big Band, Olivia Newton John, the Awakening Orchestra, Bobby Sinabria Big Band, the Jamie Begian Big Band, Orchestra Bella, the Today Show, Conan O'Brien and Darlene Love’s Christmas Show at the Apollo.  Additionally, Ben performed with a number of popular artists, including Olivia Newton John, Isaac Hayes, Frankie Valli, Keely Smith, Lou Christie, Ben E King, Stevie Van Zandt and Paul Schaeffer.  During this time, he received a BA in Jazz Studies from Manhattan School of Music (2005). 

In 2005 Ben was awarded the position of Assistant Principal Trombonist for the United States Coast Guard Band in New London, CT and served until 2010.  In addition to hundreds of performances and several recordings, Ben was also a featured soloist on national and international tours, as well a featured soloist with the Joint Services Concert Band in 2009, comprised of musicians from all branches of the military across the country.

Residing in New England, Ben retains a healthy freelance career as lead trombonist of the Hartford Jazz Orchestra & BTALC Big Band.  Additionally, he has performed with/for Goodspeed Musicals, the Galvanized Jazz Band, New Haven Symphony Orchestra, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, New England Jazz Ensemble, New Bedford Symphony Orchestra, Hal MacIntyre Orchestra, the Wolverine Jazz Band. He has taught at University of Rhode Island, Emerson College, and Manchester Community College.