The Bridge

Benjamin Shafer (who goes by the stage name Benjamin) is a multi-instrumentalist performer and educator based in St. Louis. As a driven and curious individual, Benjamin hopes to utilize his unique ability to improvise to promote genre-bending creativity, spontaneity and collaboration in his projects and growth towards the community around him. Benjamin graduated from Webster University (Jazz Performance BA) in May of 2022 during which he started on the alto saxophone but quickly extended his scope towards the tenor sax, flute, piano and even voice. Valuing composition, Benjamin has a unique way of improvisation centered on developing ideas no matter how risky. He’s sure to bring a nail biting and passionate performance no matter what stage he’s in. Other groups he performs with are his own dance/improvisation band BENJAMIN, Samba Bom, Eldraco Price and the Free Nation, and more!

Performances include Epiphany Center of the Arts (Chicago), The Dark Room, The Sheldon , Blue Strawberry, Artica Festival, Last Hotel, The Family Arena, Faust Park Summer Series, Festival of Nations, City Museum, Blumenhof Winery

Benjamin does not limit himself to one genre. He plays with a multitude of groups including brass bands, jazz, funk, Brazilian, and fusion groups as a collaborator and leader. Coming from a background of an American father and a Brazilian mother, Benjamin has learned to enjoy the music from both countries and has developed an interest for learning more about global music and synthesizing different musical elements to bring different communities and cultures together.