Ben Redwine

Biography

Ben Redwine, born and raised in Del City, Oklahoma, earned a bachelor of music education from the University of Oklahoma, a master of music from Louisiana State University, and a doctorate in clarinet performance (with a minor in Latin American music history) from The Catholic University of America. He began his professional career performing with the US Army Band in Atlanta, Georgia, followed by winning an audition with the US Naval Academy Band in Annapolis, Maryland, from which he retired in 2014. After retirement, he served on the faculty at The Catholic University of America teaching clarinet and music education for five years, and later taught music for a year at Southern University in Baton Rouge.[1][2][4]

In 2016, Redwine relocated to the New Orleans area to pursue performance opportunities in the birthplace of jazz, where he became a regular performer with the Louisiana Philharmonic and Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestras. He leads the traditional-style Redwine Jazz Band, focusing on early 20th-century popular music, and in 2023 was appointed Leader of the Dukes of Dixieland, performing six nights weekly and with symphony orchestras. His musical style spans classical and jazz genres equally, with endorsements as a Selmer Paris performing artist, D'Addario performing artist, and Rovner Ambassador; he has presented masterclasses internationally, recorded for labels like Naxos and Mapleshade, and composed music for 1920s silent films.[1][2][3]

Redwine founded RJ Music Group, manufacturing products like Gennusa mouthpieces and the Reed Wizard. He serves as Jazz Coordinator for the Northshore Traditional Music Society, leading monthly jazz jams in Covington, and manages the Crescent City Chamber Society, premiering over 30 new compositions since 1999. He resides on the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain with his wife Leslie and their chickens, continuing to perform on four continents.[1][3]

Fun Facts

• Redwine named his marching club and band after the Jabberwocky from Lewis Carroll’s 'Through the Looking Glass' (1871), reflecting his Covington residency.
• He composed and performed new music for 1920s silent films featuring Charley Chase and Harry Langdon, released on DVD box sets by All Day Entertainment.
• Redwine lives with his wife Leslie and a flock of chickens on the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain.
• His Samba Jazz Project recorded their debut album in 2012 on the exact stage in Washington, DC, where the landmark 'Jazz Samba' by Charlie Byrd, Stan Getz, and Keter Betts was made 50 years earlier.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Loris Wiles - clarinet teacher [during studies]
• David Etheridge - clarinet teacher [during studies]
• Steve Girko - clarinet teacher [during studies]
• Steve Cohen - clarinet teacher [during studies]
• Ignatius Gennusa - clarinet teacher [during studies]
• Ben Armato - clarinet teacher and product collaborator via RJ Music Group (Gennusa mouthpieces, books) [ongoing]

Key Collaborators

• Dukes of Dixieland - band leader since 2023 (regular performances at Steamboat Natchez, symphony concerts) [2023-present]
• Redwine Jazz Band - leader of traditional jazz ensemble (performances at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Dew Drop Jazz Hall) [ongoing]
• Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra - regular performer (orchestral performances) [2016-present]
• Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra - regular performer (orchestral performances) [2016-present]
• Crescent City Chamber Society - manager since 1999 (over 30 world premieres at Kennedy Center, Smithsonian) [1999-present]
• Samba Jazz Project - leader, inspired by doctoral research (debut album 2012 on historic stage) [2012]

External Links

• Spotify