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Ben LaMar Gay
Composer
Musician
Ben LaMar Gay is an American cornetist, composer and versatile multi-instrumentalist and vocalist known for pushing the boundaries of genre, blending jazz, hip-hop, electronic music and traditional Brazilian rhythms into a sound entirely his own. Born and raised on Chicago's South Side, he came up through the city's avant-garde jazz institution AACM, honing his cornet playing, and later spent three years living in Brazil, an experience that deepened the global, layered quality of his music. He gained wide recognition with his 2018 album "Downtown Castles Can Never Block The Sun," and in 2025 released "Yowzers," reinterpreting American folk music with a modern griot's touch. Viewing his music as an exchange between past and future through what he calls "cosmopolitan folklore," Gay also produces multimedia compositions for film scores and theatrical projects.
Upcoming events (2)
Frequently asked questions
Who is Ben LaMar Gay? ▾
Ben LaMar Gay is an American cornetist, composer and versatile multi-instrumentalist and vocalist known for pushing the boundaries of genre, blending jazz, hip-hop, electronic music and traditional Brazilian rhythms into a sound entirely his own. Born and raised on Chicago's South Side, he came up through the city's avant-garde jazz institution AACM, honing his cornet playing, and later spent three years living in Brazil, an experience that deepened the global, layered quality of his music. He gained wide recognition with his 2018 album "Downtown Castles Can Never Block The Sun," and in 2025 released "Yowzers," reinterpreting American folk music with a modern griot's touch. Viewing his music as an exchange between past and future through what he calls "cosmopolitan folklore," Gay also produces multimedia compositions for film scores and theatrical projects.
Where does Ben LaMar Gay perform / which events are they playing? ▾
Ben LaMar Gay will perform at the following upcoming events: Arter - Karbon (Istanbul), 36th Akbank Jazz Festival — 26 Sep 2026 · Babylon (Istanbul), Ben LaMar Gay Ensemble — 01 Oct 2026