Ben van Gelder (1988) is internationally recognized as an authority on the alto saxophone. Both peers and critics praise him for his unique sound, lyricism, and personal approach to composition. While firmly rooted in the jazz tradition, his music embraces a wide range of genres and disciplines. Visual art in particular plays a prominent role in his practice, often serving as a framework for his writing.
At the age of seventeen, Van Gelder moved to New York, where he spent a decade collaborating and studying with some of the world’s most progressive artists. He formed a quintet of forward-thinking peers (Sam Harris, Craig Weinrib, Rick Rosato, and Peter Schlamb) and recorded three albums under his own name. The ensemble toured extensively throughout Europe, Japan, and the United States.
During his stay in New York, Van Gelder forged a strong relationship with the Jazz Gallery, a venue renowned for fostering artistic excellence and serving as a springboard for emerging talent. Regular performances there allowed him to experiment with different groups and repertoires over the years. He has since performed and recorded with leading contemporary jazz luminaries including David Binney, Mark Turner, Ambrose Akinmusire, and Ben Street. A prestigious commission from the Jazz Gallery resulted in Among Verticals, a work inspired by a painting by abstractionist František Kupka. The album garnered international critical acclaim and was later arranged for and performed by major ensembles including the Grammy Award–winning Metropole Orkest, the Swiss Jazz Orchestra, and the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw.
Van Gelder has received numerous awards, among them the Deloitte Jazz Award, the Gold Award from the National Endowment for Advancement in the Arts, and the Princess Christina Concours (as a duo with his brother Gideon). More recently, he was awarded the first-ever composition commission by the BIMHUIS in Amsterdam. In addition to leading his own quartet, Van Gelder frequently collaborates with guitarist Reinier Baas. Together they have released SMASH HITS (a live recording of their performance with the Metropole Orkest) and Mokum in Hi-Fi.
He currently resides in the Netherlands and is on the faculty of the Conservatorium van Amsterdam.