Ben Gerstein is a trombonist and artist from Santa Barbara, California. Based in New York City since 1995, he collaborates with groups and individuals around the world. His music and works explore influences of nature, composition, culture and art through improvisation, performance, multi-instrumental and mixed-media practices.
Ali/Bordreuil/Mattrey is a freely improvised string trio that explores unconventional sound worlds, natural resonant frequencies of the instruments, and calls upon extended techniques through the use of preparations and unorthodox playing styles. Active since 2014, the trio has performed at MoMA PS1, the Rubin Museum, Issue Project Room, and Arts for Arts among others, and recorded a radio segment on WKCR. Their debut album “i used to sing so lyrical” was released on Astral Spirits in June 2019 and celebrated with a three-hour durational performance including collaboration with electronics, percussion, and the natural soundscape of its outdoor location.
