Ben is heavily influenced by the music of Brian Blade, Elvin Jones, Tony Williams, Wayne Shorter and John Coltrane, as well as Minnesota natives Dave King (The Bad Plus), and Eric Gravatt (Weather Report). He has gained extensive performance experience with a wide variety of artists, such as national act Ian Kimmel and the Heard, the Texas Blues Crew, Sound Skirmish, and the Ben Ehrlich Trio and Quintet. Ben has performed at the Dakota Jazz Club, the Varsity Theater, the Denton Arts and Jazz Festival, and the Twin Cities Jazz Festival.

 

In addition to performing, Ben composes music for a variety of settings. His original compositions are driven by candid representations of human emotion, expressing honesty and introspection. Ben’s compositions have been recorded and performed by the Ben Ehrlich Quintet, as well as students at the University of North Texas.

 

In 2018, Ben received his Bachelor of Music in Jazz Drum Set from the University of North Texas (UNT), receiving mentorship from Ed Soph and Quincy Davis. During his time at UNT, Ben was a member of a vast array of ensembles, including the 4 O’Clock Lab Band, the 2 O’Clock Steel Drum Band, the L-5 Guitar Ensemble, and a plethora of small jazz combos. Ben is a stylistically versatile drummer who comfortably fits into any musical setting with ease.