Ben Havick

Born: June 13, 1977
Ben Havick was born in Central Iowa and studied with Iowa Blues legend Bryan Taz Grant. In high school Havick toured the state of Iowa for two full summers with the State Fair Singers and jazz Band, under the direction of Dr. Tony Guzman, taking time out only to study guitar with free-jazz assassin Steve Grismore, at the University of Iowa and classical wunderkind Peter Lingen, at Luther college. While still in High School Havick played in the Drake University Jazz Band under the direction of Andy Classen, performing at the Elmhurst Festival in Chicago. After high school, Havick attended the University of Northern Iowa on jazz scholarship, graduating in 1998 with a BA in English.

While at the University of Northern Iowa Ben played in Jazz Band I for two years before resigning from the band to pursue his small group interests. His notable free-jazz quartet featured professor Bob Washut on pocket trumpet, and ex-John Coltrane cohort, Wendall Allen, on drums. While at the University, Ben Havick studied guitar with Northeast Iowa's legendary Bob Dunn, and professor John Schwabe.

After college Ben moved to Haledon, New Jersey, where he roomed with students from William Paterson college. While living in New Jersey, Havick had his first taste of the New York City music life, enjoying the Texaco Jazz Festival and meeting Dewey Redman while waiting to watch him perform. Havick also enjoyed his walks to Paterson, NJ, where the throngs of young African Americans gave him a ?gone time?h education in jazz and what it is to express the joy of life.

While living on the east coast Havick developed a deep love for the African diaspora. To help fulfill his need to be closer to the core of what he believe jazz is, Havick lived in Washington Heights in New York City with Tenor Saxophonist Jason Henriksen. While living in NYC, Havick worked with Henriksen, and Columbian native Tupac Cruz on 4 full length collaboration albums with Havick playing guitar and drums. While living in New York City, Ben Havick met guitarist Michael Pavone, a long time idol.

After leaving New York City, and moving to Columbus, Ohio, Ben Havick played with Reverend Ray Thomas and the Gospel Sabre Aires, playing lead guitar. He was also active playing guitar, bass, and keyboards in the So Help Me God Church of Christ worship band. At church he was able to collaborate with the choir director on arrangements, and learned alot about taking commands from experienced gospel musicians. As Havick puts it:

?gPlaying in church was really eye opening for me. I mean here I was, a skinny, know-it-all white boy in the midst of singers and musicians who haven't missed a beat in gospel history for the past 30 years ,helping the congregation get off their feet with my fingers on the fret board. It just doesn't get more jazz than that. In church we would play for 3 hours.....straight....every time I went. There wasn't a Sunday that my fingers weren't cut open.?h

While living in Ohio, Havick studied Bata drumming with expert drummer Baba Adetobe, a God child of the famous Cuban drummer Felipe Garcia Villamil.

?gPlaying Bata is the very heart and foundation of everything jazz. All of the rhythms in jazz come from Africa, and to hear the source is tear jerking.?h says Havick.

During this time in Ohio, Havick recorded two full length Be Bop albums, Help me Dance, and Cool Aid. He plays all instruments on both albums. Both albums are available to sample at Napster, iTunes, and Rhapsody, and availabe for purchase at CD Baby.

Currently Ben Havick lives in Japan, where he is playing professionally with Los Afro Cubanos, and working on his upcoming Be Bop release.

Havick says:

?gI appreciate you listening to what I can put together on short notice. Praise the Lord through who all blessings go.?h