Ben LaMar Gay: The World of Ben LaMar Gay

“The remarkably distinctive and individualist style of Ben LaMar Gay places this Chicagoan multitasker at the forefront of adventurous jazz (and ritually folkloric electronica).  … No one is making music like this.” —DownBeat 

Ben LaMar Gay is a folklorist as much as he is an instrumentalist. By reexamining the narrative threads that connect musical traditions across the Americas, the Chicago Southsider redefines notions of “Americana.” At the Walker, Gay brings to life his stand-out 2025 LP Yowzers. His music integrates musical styles, from Delta blues to Tropicália, using unconventional instrumentation such as bell choir, tuba, and diddley bow. Along with his core quartet and three showstopping vocalists, Gay blurs the line between the ancient and the future, creating an entirely new kind of folklore.