Born and raised in the Bay Area California, Ben Esposito grew up around a vibrant and diverse community of mentors, peers, and musical styles. He graduated from Berkeley High School in 2019 which gave him the tools to begin playing professionally at age 16. He went on to attend DePaul University in Chicago, studying closely under one of his biggest influences, Dana Hall. During this time, he worked with Bobby Broom, Mary Stallings, Greg Ward, Dennis Carroll, and other professors and peers in Chicago while in school. Additionally, Ben gained experience with gospel music playing in a Baptist church on the South Side of Chicago and one in the Bay.

Esposito has played around the Bay Area as a top-call drummer, playing with and being mentored by local greats such as Joshua Redman, Marcus Shelby, and Howard Wiley. He’s had the honor to perform with Jazzmeia Horn, Fred Armisen, Gary Bartz, Essiet Okon Essiet, Johnny O’Neal, Javier Santiago, Alexander Claffy, Tiffany Austin, Dennis Adu, and more. He has studied with Greg Hutchinson, Kenny Washington, Johnathan Blake, Jeremy Dutton, Kendrick Scott, George Fludas, and Ulysses Owens Jr. Ben has performed in ensembles at Montreux Jazz Festival, Umbria Jazz Festival, Carnegie Hall, SFJAZZ, San Jose Jazz Festival, and led his own projects at the Black Cat, Bird and Beckett, and the Soundroom, to name a few.

Ben is currently based in Brooklyn, living in New York City and finishing his studies at the New School of Jazz and Contemporary Music. He finished recording his debut album over the summer in Chicago featuring an all star crew of friends and mentors.