Drummer
Ben Perowsky is an inventive bandleader and sideman whose eclectic skills find him ably moving between jazz, avant-garde, and forward-thinking rock projects. A vital presence on the New York scene since the 1980s,
Perowsky has played with a bevy of artists from across the spectrum, including
John Zorn,
Uri Caine,
Rickie Lee Jones, and
Iggy Pop. He has issued his own albums, pairing often with saxophonist/clarinetist
Chris Speed as on 2009's
Esopus Opus and 2019's Upstream with
John Medeski.
Born in 1966 and raised in New York City,
Perowsky grew up in a musical household the son of jazz saxophonist Frank Perowsky. By his teens, he was playing drums in his father's band, and he later honed his skills at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he studied with
Alan Dawson. Returning to New York, he found himself in demand, working with an impressive list of artists including
Rickie Lee Jones,
Roy Ayers,
John Cale,
James Moody, and many others.
Perowsky was a member of the arty ensemble
Lounge Lizards in the mid-'80s and a co-founder of the experimental fusion collective
Lost Tribe. Along with jazz, he has played on stylistically varied projects with artists like
the Elysian Fields,
Liminal,
Joan as Policewoman, and more.
As a leader,
Perowsky issued his debut album,
Ben Perowsky Trio, in 1999, playing alongside saxophonist/clarinetist
Chris Speed and bassist
Scott Colley. He then paired with his father, Frank Perowsky, and organist
Sam Yahel for 2002's Bop on Pop. The following year, he issued Camp Songs on Tzadik Records. Also showcasing pianist
Uri Caine and bassist
Drew Gress, the album found
Perowsky exploring prayer songs he originally learned as a child at summer camp in Upstate New York. There were also sundry projects with
Josh Roseman,
Trey Anastasio,
John Zorn,
Loudon Wainwright III, and others.
In 2009,
Perowsky debuted his quartet with
Speed, bassist
Gress, and accordion player
Ted Reichman on
Esopus Opus. Around the same time, he continued his ongoing association with
John Zorn and made various appearances on albums by
Iggy Pop,
Hercules & Love Affair, and
Steven Bernstein. 2019's funky Upstream showcased
Perowsky's longtime organ trio with
John Medeski and reedist
Speed. ~ Matt Collar