Ben Schachter is a powerful and original saxophonist and composer. As a leader, he has six recordings on his own label. He has performed and recorded in the U.S., Europe, and Asia with; Tim Hagans, Conrad Herwig, John Zorn, Gary Bartz, Dick Oatts, Sam Rivers, Dave Holland, Jeff "Tain" Watts, Terell Stafford, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Uri Caine, George Garzone, Marc Ribot, Mark Dresser, John Swana, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Charles Fambrough, James Genus, Jef Lee Johnson, Marvin "Smitty" Smith, Burhan Ocal, Jack Walrath, etc. As a composer, Ben has been recognized with grants from the American Composers Forum (2003), Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (2001 & 2005), and Pew Fellowships in the Arts (1999). A Philadelphia native, he has been cited in his hometown press as "Best Jazz Artist" and "Best Saxophonist". Holding Degrees from Berklee College of Music and the New England Conservatory, Ben has been a passionate educator for many years. He taught at Berklee from 1986-88, and at Bucks County Community College in Newtown, PA from 1991-96. In Philadelphia he taught at Temple University as an Assistant Professor in the school's renowned Jazz Studies program from 1993 to 2010. He was an adjunct Assistant Professor of Music at The University of the Arts from 2004 to 2010. Ben has also been an active clinician for years, conducting clinics and masterclasses at numerous colleges, high schools and universities in the U.S. and Europe. In 2010, seeking a change of lifestyle and fulfilling a desire to live in an environment of natural beauty, Ben moved with his wife to Tucson, Arizona. In 2012, wishing to again live in a vibrant city, Ben and his wife moved to San Diego, California. More to come...