Ben Duff
Acoustic Bass
Social
About
Ben Duff is a Canadian jazz bassist based in Toronto. He is a member of the Nick Maclean Quartet alongside pianist Nick Maclean, trumpeter Brownman Ali, and drummer Jacob Wutzke, whose album Convergence received a JUNO nomination for Jazz Album of the Year (Group) in 2024. Multi-Grammy-winning trumpeter Randy Brecker praised Duff's playing, calling him "the heartbeat of the band." He has also recorded with vocalist Caity Gyorgy, drummer Agneya Chikte, and saxophonist Andrew Scott. Duff graduated from the Humber College Bachelor of Music program in 2019 and has performed across Canada and the United Kingdom with the Nick Maclean Quartet, including appearances at the Toronto Jazz Festival and the Niagara Jazz Festival.
Trivia
Duff won a scholarship from the Minstrel Music Foundation while still an undergraduate at Humber College. He mentored students at the Humber College Community Music School during his studies. Multi-Grammy-winning trumpeter Randy Brecker described his bass playing as "the heartbeat of the band" in an endorsement of the Nick Maclean Quartet. He initially played piano, clarinet, and other instruments before settling on bass.
Early Life
Ben Duff attended the Humber College Music Program in Toronto from 2015 through 2019, earning a Bachelor of Music degree in jazz performance. During his third year, at age twenty, he received a scholarship from the Minstrel Music Foundation in recognition of his musical promise and commitment to the community. While still a student, he devoted time mentoring younger musicians at the Humber College Community Music School. He quickly established himself on the Toronto jazz scene, and by 2018 was performing at the Niagara Jazz Festival, where he was described as "one of Toronto's finest young jazz musicians." Shortly after completing his studies, he joined the Nick Maclean Quartet, which would go on to tour across Canada and the United Kingdom.
Ben Duff Solos
2018
Acoustic Bass solo - Two Left Feet - 2018
4/4 swing in C major at 131 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - I've Never Been In Love Before - 2018
4/4 swing in G major at 142 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - Embraceable You - 2018
4/4 ballad in E♭ major at 89 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - Exactly Like You - 2018
4/4 swing in C major at 141 BPM