Ben Reimer
Ben Reimer has been called a “genre-bending wiz” (PuSh) and a performer of “stunning virtuosity” (Ludwig-Van Mtl). His collaboration with composers such as Nicole Lizée, Eliot Britton, Vincent Ho and Lukas Ligeti have resulted in a unique collection of solos, chamber works and concertos for solo drumkit. His debut album Katana of Choice: Music for Drumset Soloist (Redshift Records) is described as “an exhilarating musical ride” (Wholenote) and “a modern classic” (I Care If You Listen). The title track, “Katana of Choice” by Lizée, was nominated for composition of the year at the JUNOs in 2019. Ben has been featured in the Drummer’s Journal and Modern Drummer and is a contributing author to the The Cambridge Companion to the Drumkit (2021).
Ben is the artistic director of the inaugural UnDrum Festival streaming live June 2021. UnDrum features artists who are undoing our conception of the drum solo through avant-garde performance practice. It is co-presented by Architek Percussion and Suoni Per Il Popolo in Montreal.
Ben has been a guest soloist in the CBC JUNO Showcase, the Bang On A Can Marathon, Roulette Concert Series NYC, the Winnipeg International New Music Festival, Edmonton New Music, Calgary New Music, GroundSwell, Cluster New Music + Integrated Arts Festival, The Little Chamber Music Series That Could, Music on Main, PuSh Festival, Innovations En Concert, Luminato Festival, Tapestry Opera and Open Ears Festival. With Architek Percussion Ensemble he has performed throughout Canada, Norway, Sweden, and the UK. Ben has performed with other ensembles such as Paramirabo, the Australian Art Orchestra, la Société de Musique Contemporaine du Québec (SMCQ), Collectif9, Standing Wave and the Land’s End Ensemble.
He can be heard on other recordings such as Kickin’ It by Land’s End Ensemble, The Privacy of Domestic Life by Architek Percussion, Bookburners and This Will Not Be Televised by Nicole Lizée, Pinnacles by Diana McIntosh and A Menacing Plume by Rand Steiger.
Ben holds a Doctor of Music and has taught percussion at the Schulich School of Music, McGill University from 2015-2021. He is a member of Architek Percussion Quartet (Montreal) and Park Sounds duo (with violist Jennifer Thiessen) and is a Sabian Cymbals, Yamaha Canada and Vic Firth artist. In his free time, being an avid collector of vinyl, Ben aka “DJ Cinq à Sept” spins a wide range of styles from his collection of over 1500 records via live stream on a weekly basis. Each mix is a glimpse of the music and artists that have inspired Ben to be the diverse performer he is today.
Ben Reimer 