New York City-based musician Ben Kono’s woodwinds have graced the recordings and performances of jazz legends Bob Berg, Michael and Randy Brecker, Freddie Hubbard, Wynton Marsalis, Christian McBride and David Liebman; composers Darcy James Argue, Miho Hazama and Ted Nash; and superstars Patti Austin, Hugh Jackman and Natalie Cole among others. He is a member of the John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble, the BMI Jazz Composers Orchestra, the Ed Palermo Big Band, Remy Le Boeuf’s Assembly of Shadows, and has held chairs in many Broadway productions including the eleven-year run of Jersey Boys. As a composer and bandleader, his own critically acclaimed ensemble The Ben Kono Group is twice recipient of the Chamber Music America New Jazz Works Grant, and has presented concerts and clinics throughout the United States. Mr. Kono appears on over a hundred recordings and for his contributions to these projects he is a Grammy® Award winner. As an educator he has served on faculties at University of North Texas, Morgan State University, Queens College, City College of New York, and is currently a teaching artist for the New York Pops Orchestra.