Solo Jazz pianist with a stylistic approach combining early harlem stride, songs from the great American songbook and contemporary standards.
Ben Wilcock is a pianist and composer from Hamilton, NZ. Ben began his career as 'on stage pianist' in the award winning show 'The Pickle King' (Indian ink) which won multiple awards including a Fringe First at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
After an extended period playing in the UK Ben returned to NZ to perform and record with Bella Kalolo, including her Without the Paper and Time and Space releases, with performances at Glastonbury, Java Jazz, Sydney Arts Festival and New York's Ella lounge and Rockwood Music Hall. During this time he also toured with Aaradnha, Louis Baker and more recently with American Blues legend Chris Cain.
His trio The Jelly Rolls have performed at Jazz festivals including the Edinburgh Jazz festival, the Wellington Jazz festival and the Tauranga Jazz festival. 2019 included a tour of Scotland,
Ben has released two albums with The Jelly Rolls - Sneaky Weasel (2014) and The Phantom Canoe (2017) as well as 'A short history of Jazz, the 1930s' for Radio New Zealand.
In 2020 he released 'Goodnight T.V', a solo piano album and in 2021 he released 'The River Tethys' on ltd edition vinyl.
Songlist.
Ray Charles & Betty Carter
People Will Say We're in Love
Fats Waller
I'm going to it right down and write myself a letter
Edith Piaf
La Vie en Rose
Sinatra
Fly me to the moon
Eroll Garner
There will never be another you
Erroll Garner
Misty
Ray Charles
Georgia on my mind
Dave Brubeck
In your own sweet way
Sarah Vaughan
Body and Soul
Sarah Vaughan
Ternderly
Videos.
Ben Wilcock / Goodnight TV solo piano album 2020
Ben Wilcock and the Jelly Rolls / People will say we're in love
Ben Wilcock / Faded Revolution
Reviews.