Ben Reimer

Ben Reimer has been called a “genre-bending wiz” (PuSh) and a performer of “stunning virtuosity” (Ludwig-Van Mtl). His album Katana of Choice: Music for Drumset Soloist is described as “an exhilarating musical ride” (Wholenote) and “a modern classic” (I Care If You Listen). He has been featured in the Drummer’s Journal and Modern Drummer and is a contributing author to the Cambridge Companion to the Drumkit (Cambridge University Press, 2021). Ben holds a Doctor of Music from McGill University and is a Sabian Cymbals, Yamaha Canada and Vic Firth artist.

Ben has been a guest soloist in the CBC JUNO Showcase, the Bang On A Can Marathon, Roulette Series NYC, the Winnipeg International New Music Festival, Edmonton New Music, Calgary New Music, GroundSwell, Cluster Festival, The Little Chamber Music Series, Music on Main, PuSh Festival, Innovations En Concert, Luminato Festival, Tapestry Opera and Open Ears Festival.

As a member of Architek Percussion (2015-2021), Ben performed throughout Canada, USA, Norway, Sweden, and the UK. He has performed with other ensembles such as Paramirabo, the Australian Art Orchestra, la Société de Musique Contemporaine du Québec, Collectif9, Standing Wave and the Land’s End Ensemble.

In 2019 Ben’s duo Park Sounds, with JUNO-nominated violist Jennifer Thiessen, premiered their Root Systems program of Canadian commissions and continue to cowrite new original works.

Ben (aka “DJ Cinq à Sept”) is an avid collector of vinyl records and he creates theme-based mixes on mixcloud.com. Each mix is a glimpse of the music and artists that have inspired Ben to be the performer he is today.