Ben Dowling - Pianist, Composer, Producer, Musical Director

At the forefront of musical exploration for the past 20 years, Ben Dowling has been committed to the expansion of the musical lexicon as pianist, improviser, producer, synthesist, composer and technologist.

Technology
An early pioneer in music technology, Dowling was snapped up by the synth manufacturer, Korg to do clinics for their professional keyboards, and later developing the early versions of Korg's "sampling synthesis" which ultimately became the Korg M1, T Series and Wavestation synthesizers. Later with Korg R&D, he transitioned into the physics-based, algorithmic synthesis premiered on the incredible Korg Oasys.

Keyboardist/Producer/Musical Director
Leaving Korg in 1995 (though still developing sounds and demos for their instruments), Dowling supported the Los Angeles music and film community with synthesis, keyboard session work, composition and production. Since that time, he has worked with artists including: Madonna, Michael Jackson, Joe Zawinul, Dave Grusin, Don Henley, Jon Anderson among many others, while producing critically-acclaimed CD's (Ester Nicholson, Charles Holt, etc.), performing worldwide (w/Earth, Wind & Fire's Al McKay Allstars and the Agape Choir), and engaged as Musical Director for events, artists, concerts and television productions.

Recordings
Dowling's most recent release has been the much anticipated, "World Rising," a fusion of jazz, world and funk influences. "I wanted to create a type of music that lent itself to great improvisers, yet had enough structure to be cohesive. Kind of a four-on-the-floor, percussion-based groove, long meter horn ensemble in a modal soup," Dowling explains. World Rising features some recognizable names: Mindi Abair, Will Kennedy, Satnam Ramgotra, Bob Sheppard and others. In 2007, Visionsound released Dowling's multimedia visual-music work, entitled "The Path of Peace," with painter and visual artist Mark Wagner. The project is an exploration in ambient aural and visual color, space and touch, and has drawn rave reviews from around the world.

Awards & Honors
Over the years, Dowling has accrued multiple Gold and Platinum records, a CINE Golden Eagle (for documentary scoring) and multiple technology awards for synthesizer developments. In addition, his original compositions have been featured on recordings, broadcast radio and television - and internationally in association with the United Nations.

Discography

• Tom Coster: "Did Ja Miss Me" - 1989 (programmer)
• Freddy Hubbard: "Times Are Changin'" - 1989 (programmer)
• Tom Coster: "From Me To You" - 1990 (programmer)
• Starr Parodi: "Change" - 1991 (programmer)
• David Patt: "Intimate Notions" - 1991 (programmer)
• Greg Walker: "Love You So Good" - 1991 (producer)
• Michael Jackson: "Dangerous" - 1991 (programmer)
• Yellowjackets: "Greenhouse" - 1991 (programmer)
• Michael Jackson: "HIStory" - 1995 (keyboardist/programmer)
• Kathleen Gibson: "Jungle Bungalow" - 1997 (producer)
• Equator: "Equator" - 1998 (producer)
• JD Martin: "One Heart" - 2000 (producer)
• Suzanne Teng: "Mystic Journey" - 2001 (keyboardist)
• Jami Lula: "Something's Calling Me" - 2001 (producer)
• Benjamin Dowling "Ahimsa" - 2001 (artist/producer)
• David Newman: "Soul Freedom" - 2001 (producer)
• Al McKay: "Live at Mt. Fuji Jazz Festival" - 2003 (keyboardist)
• Al McKay: "Live In Europe" - 2004 (keyboardist)
• Korg Oasys: "Love Embraces All" - 2005 (artist/producer)
• Andre Delano: "Full Circle" - 2005 (keyboardist/producer)
• Ester Nicholson: "Child Above the Sun" - 2006 (producer)
• Ben Dowling/Mark Wagner "The Path of Peace DualDisc" - 2007 (artist/producer)
• Charles Holt: "I Am" - 2007 (producer)
• Ben Dowling: "World Rising" - 2009 (artist/producer)