Dr Ben Redwine

New Orleans based clarinetist Dr. Ben Redwine feels equally comfortable performing Brahms or Ellington. He is devoted to the performance of new classical music and old jazz, as well as to teaching the next generation of performers and teachers.
Ben's recording can be heard as the theme song for Circle Round, a podcast presenting folk tales produced by WBUR Boston. He has been featured in three episodes (#100, 200, and 289) providing the soundtrack for the entire show. Keep your eyes open for a Circle Round musical, slated for production in 2026, visiting a city near you! In 2023, Ben accepted an appointment as Leader of the world-famous DUKES of Dixieland, performing six nights every week, in addition to special concerts with symphony orchestras. In 2022, Ben began serving as the Jazz Coordinator for the Northshore Traditional Music Society, where he leads a monthly jazz jam session in Covington for student, amateur, and professional musicians. In 2022, Ben's bands were featured at the historic Dew Drop Jazz and Social Hall, and at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
In addition to leading his popular traditional-style jazz band, the Redwine Jazz Band, Ben is a Selmer Paris performing artist, a D'Addario performing artist, and a Rovner Ambassador, presenting concerts and master classes internationally. He has recorded for Mapleshade, Naxos, Vin Rouge, Big Kahuna, Antidote Sounds, and AmCam record labels, and composed and performed new music for 1920s era silent films featuring actors Charley Chase and Harry Langdon, released on DVD box sets by All Day Entertainment. All of Ben’s recordings can be found at his website, redwinejazz.com.
Ben served as an Assistant Professor at The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC from 2012-2016 and was woodwind professor at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana from 2017-2019. In 2014, he retired after 27 years in the US military band system, the majority of time serving as the e-flat clarinet soloist with the US Naval Academy Band in Annapolis, Maryland. He has been a featured soloist at seven International Clarinet Association ClarinetFests in the U.S. and Europe, and has performed extensively on four continents. In 2016, he moved to the New Orleans area to pursue performance opportunities in the birthplace of jazz. Since relocating to Louisiana, he has been a regular performer with the Louisiana Philharmonic and Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestras.
In 2022, he was honored by being presented the St Tammany Cultural Affairs Council's Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2023, Ben was appointed as a Commissioner of Cultural Affairs for St Tammany Parish by Parish President Mike Cooper.
Ben earned a bachelor of music education degree from the University of Oklahoma, a master of music degree from Louisiana State University, and a doctorate degree at The Catholic University of America, studying clarinet performance with a minor in Latin American music history. He has studied with Loris Wiles, David Etheridge, Steve Girko, Steve Cohen, Ignatius Gennusa, Ben Armato, and Paul Cigan.
Founder of the company RJ Music Group, Ben manufactures quality products for discriminating musicians, including Gennusa mouthpieces, the Reed Wizard, and other products and books by Ben Armato.
Ben lives on the Northshore of Lake Ponchartrain with his wife, Leslie, and their flock of chickens.