Swing University Ben Young's Biography

Ben Young is a music researcher and radio host. 20 years on air at WKCR have included continuing in-depth study of the avant garde jazz of the 1960s, focusing on Albert Ayler, Don Cherry, Bill Dixon, Cecil Taylor, and their circles. Dixonia, his bio-discography of Dixon was published in 1998 and a forthcoming work proposes to be the definitive treatment of Taylor’s life and career. In addition to widespread work in Jazz reissues, Young has produced cornerstone projects on the music of Ayler, Jimmy Lyons, and the New York Art Quartet. Since 2010, he has lectured on the music for Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Swing University.