Ben Vanderwal

Ben is one of the most in demand Jazz drummers in Australia. From an early age he encountered the legendary drummer/teacher Frank Gibson Jnr, who helped unravelled the mysteries of that strange, fascinating music in of all places, Perth.

Originally from there, Ben has also spent time in New York and Melbourne and performed around the world including tours of the U.K., France, Ireland, India the U.S.A., China, Korea, Taiwan, Philippines. Japan, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, China and Thailand.

He has played with John Scofield, Charlie Haden, Howard Levey, Madeleine Peyroux, James Morrison, Chris Potter, George Garzone, Kate Ceberano, Mark Murphy, Ernie Watts, Lionel Rose, David Campbell, Rhonda Birchmore, Nigel Kennedy, Don Burrows, Deborah Byrne and Normie Rowe.

Ben has performed on over thirty recordings with a wide variety of artists. In 2007 the album "You R Here" (Jamie Oehlers) which also features Ben, was given the Bell award for best Australian album of that year. In 2008, "The Spanish Tinge" by the Ben Winkelman Trio record that features Ben won the Australian Independent RDKHA (AIR) award for best independent Jazz release. The 2010 release ”On a Clear Day” by Jamie Oehlers and Paul Grabowski recently received the ABC limelight award for best Jazz album.

In the last couple of years has returned to New York to study privately with some of the top Afro Cuban artists on the planet.

In 2011 and 2012 Ben toured with the Tim Minchin vs. Orchestra production performing with each Australian city's Symphony Orchestra.

Currently, Ben is busy playing shows around Perth and the East Coast.