Ben Griffin

Ben Griffin is one of the busiest trombonists in CT.  A veteren of many ensembles in a wide variety of genres, Ben is at home in almost any musical setting.

Springfield, MA native Ben Griffin grew up in a musical family that encouraged him when started playing trumpet.  He quickly went on to play euphonium and, with a new found  love for jazz, trombone.  Tuba and later the bass trombone would follow and he began t0 play those instruments professionally at age 14.

Ben attended the University of Massachusetts from 1995-1999 studying Music Education & Classical Performance.  There he played trumpet, trombone, tuba or euphonium in virtually every performing ensemble.  He studied trombone with David Sporny and was coached in jazz ensembles by Jeff Holmes.  In addition, Ben began an active freelance career, playing in bands across lower New England.

In 1999, Ben joined the original cast of Blast!.  Over two years, Ben was a featured soloist that performed in front of thousands of people across two continents, from London's West End to Broadway.  Over the course of the show, Ben would play tenor and bass trombones, euphonium, tuba, piccolo trumpet, didgeridoo and, perhaps most infamously, was the original unicycling trombonist.

In 2001, Ben made New York City his home and quickly became one of the rising young trombone players in the city.  During his tenure there, Ben played with the Vanguard Orchestra, The Cab Calloway Big Band, The Big Apple Circus, The Mingus Big Band, The Birdland Big Band, Sherisse Roger's Project Uprising, Kyle Saulnier's  Awakening Orchestra, Darcy Argue's Secret Society, The Bobby Sinabria Big Band, Frankie Valli, Darlene Love, Dan Akroyd (as Elwood Blues), The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (led by Buddy Morrow), Isaac Hayes, Keely Smith, Paul Shaffer, Jerry Vivino, Jay and the Americans, Lou Christie, Olivia Newton John, amongst many others.

During this time, Ben attended the Manhattan School of Music where he studied tenor and bass trombones with  Jack Gale and Dave Taylor.  He graduated with a BA in Jazz Studies in the spring of 2005.

Three weeks later, Ben won the position of Assistant Principal Trombonst with the U.S. Coast Guard Band.  The only premier service band not based in Washington D.C., Ben relocated to Eastern Connecticut to perform with this ensemble full time .  In addition to playing Asst. Principal Trombone in the Concert Band, Ben played with the Coast Guard Band's Dixieland Band, Masters of Swing and Brass Quintet.  He was also a regularly featured soloist with the Coast Guard Band in concert and tours across the U.S. and Japan.

In 2010, Ben's service ended with the Coast Guard and he has gone on to be an in demand trombonist across the North East and across many genres, playing in shows, with orchestras, with big bands, and a host of musical activities that would easily feel this page.

Ben also maintains a presence in New York, holding chairs with Kyle Saulnier's Awakening Orchestra, David O'Rourke's O'Rourkestra and New York City Swing in addition to his other freelance work.

Ben is also the trombone sales rep. for S.E. Shires Co., makers of the finest trumpets and trombones available.

(playing with cornet great Fred Vigorito)