Composer/performer Ben Neill is the inventor of the Mutantrumpet, a hybrid electro-acoustic instrument, and is recognized as a musical innovator who “uses a schizophrenic trumpet to create art music for the people” (Wired Magazine). Neill generates immersive musical experiences that merge ambient music, electronic grooves, and interactive video, all controlled live by his instrument.
Thirteen albums of Neill’s music have been released on labels including Universal/Verve, Thirsty Ear, Astralwerks, and his own Blue Math label distributed by AWAL/Sony. His most recent recording, Prana Cantos, was released on Six Degrees Records in 2023 as part of their Soundbalm series of music and meditation albums. Based in New York since the early 1980’s, his performances include BAM Next Wave Festival, Big Ears Festival, Lincoln Center, Whitney Museum of American Art, The Broad Museum, Bing Concert Hall at Stanford, Getty Museum, Cite de la Musique, Moogfest, Spoleto Festival, Umbria Jazz, Bang On A Can Festival, ICA London, Istanbul Jazz Festival, Vienna Jazz Festival, and the Edinburgh Festival, among many others.
Neill’s first book, Diffusing Music: Trajectories of Sonic Democratization, was published by Bloomsbury Press in December 2024. The book explores how technology is reshaping music, enabling unprecedented levels of creativity and transforming how we share and experience sound. From digital tools that let anyone become a music maker to AI systems that write, mix, and master songs, Neill breaks down how these advancements empower creators and reshape the relationship between artists and audiences. Part history, part personal story, and part look at what’s next; Diffusing Music is a must-read for anyone curious about the future of music.
Neill is a longtime close associate of minimalist pioneer La Monte Young, and leads international performances of Young’s music. The list of creative innovators with whom Neill has worked includes David Wojnarowicz, John Cage, David Berhman, Nicolas Collins, John Cale, Petr Kotik, Pauline Oliveros, Rhys Chatham, DJ Spooky, Mimi Goese, and King Britt. In addition to his many collaborations, Neill was the Music Curator at The Kitchen from 1992-98, and also curated music at the World Financial Center Winter Garden where he organized large scale concerts for the River to River Festival and WNYC New Sounds Live.
Neill began developing the Mutantrumpet in the early 1980s. Initially an acoustic instrument combining 3 trumpets and a trombone into one, he collaborated with synthesizer pioneer Robert Moog to integrate electronics. In 1992, while in residency at the STEIM research and development lab for new instruments in Amsterdam, Neill made the Mutantrumpet fully computer interactive. In 2008 he created a new version of his instrument at STEIM, and in 2019 Version 4 debuted in the premiere of Fantini Futuro, which was presented by the Interpretations Series.
Recent projects include Trove, a 104 track ambient collection that was created during the Covid pandemic. A live version of Trove utilizing a wireless outdoor sound system that projects sound up to two miles was premiered in 2022 at Manitoga/The Russel Wright Design Center in Garrison, NY, and repeated in 2023. Neill’s electronic chamber opera Fantini Futuro (2019), based on the life and music of early Baroque composer/performer Girolamo Fantini blends early music, minimalism, and immersive visual media using an array of interactive technologies.
A native of North Carolina, Neill holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from Manhattan School of Music. Since 2008 he has been a music professor at Ramapo College of New Jersey, where he recently founded an MFA program in Creative Music Technology. His first book, Diffusing Music, was released by Bloomsbury Press in December 2024.
Neill has also composed extensively for television and film, see his portfolio of Music for Media here.
DISCOGRAPHY
SOLO RELEASES
Ben Neill with Kadence Neill, Prana Cantos (Guided Meditation), Six Degrees Records, 2023
Ben Neill, Prana Cantos (Instrumental Version), Six Degrees Records, 2023
Ben Neill with Eric Calvi, Trove, 104 track album, Blue Math Music B304-418, 2020-21
Mimi Goese and Ben Neill, Life You Are, Blue Math Music, B419, 2020
Ben Neill, Green Machine (Remastered), Blue Math Music, B303
Ben Neill & David Wojnarowicz, ITSOFOMO (Remastered plus remixes), JABS 001 double vinyl/digital
Ben Neill, Souvenir and Transition Dub, Blue Math Music, B301, B302, 2018
Mimi Goese and Ben Neill, Viscera, Amazon Music Exclusive release, 2017
Ben Neill, Horizonal, Audiokult Records 2015
Mimi Goese and Ben Neill, Songs for Persephone, Ramseur Records 2011
Ben Neill, Night Science, Thirsty Ear Recordings 2009
Ben Neill, Automotive, Six Degrees Records, 657036 1077-2MJ
Ben Neill, Goldbug, Verve Antilles CD 314 557 085-2
Ben Neill, Triptycal, Verve Antilles CD 314 533 184-2
Ben Neill, Green Machine, Astralwerks CD ASW 6159
Ben Neill, Torchtower, New Tone CD 6723
Ben Neill & David Wojnarowicz, ITSOFOMO, New Tone CD 6710
Ben Neill, Mainspring, Ear-Rational LP/CD 1002
REMIXES, COMPILATIONS and PERFORMANCES
Ben Neill, The Other Side of Midnight, Echoes live broadcast compilation
Ben Neill, The Other Side of Midnight, compilation on Audiokult Recordings
Ben Neill, Futura, Still:Echoes compilation, produced by Echoes radio program
Ben Neill, Afterimage, 12” single includes remix by DJ Pinch
Ben Neill, Perfume, remix of Latin-Grammy winning artist Bajofondo, Universal Latin Records
Ben Neill and David Rothenberg, Myagostrov in the Deep (Hudsonia Remix), Whale Music Remixed CD
Ben Neill and Bill Jones, Color Bar Remix, Eyewash DVD Volume 2, Forward Motion Theater
Ben Neill with Andrew Montgomery, Shock the Monkey (Peter Gabriel), Leaves from the Tree compilation, Vitamin Records CD-8597
Ben Neill, Turbonium X, Street Mix vol.1 compilation CD, Volkswagen/Rock River /Universal Music
Ben Neill & Fred Jorio, Comatose remixes of song by Lisa Hall, Reprise Records 9 44544-2
Ben Neill & David Wojnarowicz, ITSOFOMO excerpt, Optic Nerve CD-ROM, Red Hot Organization
Ben Neill, After the Gold Rush, (Neil Young), Wired Magazine Presents: Music Futurists, Rhino CD R2 75607
Ben Neill, Tunnel Vision, 12” single, Antilles remixes by Spring Heel Jack, DJ Krust, X-Ecutioners
Ben Neill, Pentagram/Flotation Device, 12″ single, Antilles remixes by DJ Spooky, DJ Soulslinger
Ben Neill, Flotation Device OK Jungle mix by DJ Soulslinger, Liquid Sky Music CD JS116
Ben Neill, Sistrum, 12″ single, remixes by DJ Spooky, Single Cell Orchestra, Astralwerks 6159
Ben Neill, Somnabula, Excursions in Ambience compilation CD/LP/cass, Astralwerks 6153
Ben Neill, Ether, Ambient No. 1 Fantasy compilation, Sub Terranean SPV 089-38782
Ben Neill, Sistrum, Nicotine Beat Mix, Werks Like a 12″ compilation, Astralwerks 6179-2
Ben Neill, 678 Streams, Century 21 compilation, New Tone CD 6730
Ben Neill, Bal, Utopia Americana compilation, New Tone CD 6707
Ben Neill, Money Talk, Virtuosity with Purpose compilation, Ear-Rational CD 1034
Ben Neill & David Wojnarowicz, ITSOFOMO excerpt, Tellus CD#25
Ben Neill, Music for ‘The King of Thule’‘ Tellus CD #27 “Mini-Mall”
David Behrman, Unforeseen Events, XI CD 105
David Behrman, Leapday Night, Lovely Music LP/CD VR 1042
John Cage, Concert for Piano and Orchestra, Wergo CD
John Cale, Walking On Locusts, Hannibal/Rykodisc HNCS 1395
Rhys Chatham, Die Donnergotter, Dossier LP/CD 7538
Nicolas Collins, 100 of the World’s Most Beautiful Melodies, Trace Elements CD 1018
Nicolas Collins, It Was a Dark and Stormy Night, Trace Elements CD1019
Nicolas Collins, Still Lives, Unknown Public Cassette Magazine 1994
DJ Spooky, Songs of A Dead Dreamer, Asphodel CD/LP 0961
DJ Spooky, Riddim Warfare, Outpost/Geffen CD OPRD-30031
DJ Spooky, Necropolis, Knitting Factory Records CD
Deep Listening Band, Tosca Salad, DLB 001 CD
Marcel Duchamp, Erratum Musical, Edition Rene Block CD 202
Echo Art, Coreografie, New Tone CD 6712
Electric Owthaus, Co-rage-us, Live at the Knitting Factory, Vol. 5
Fast Forward, Same Same, XI CD 108
Petr Kotik, Solos and Incidental Harmonies, Ear-Rational CD 1007
Pilgrimage-9 Songs of Ecstasy, Point Music
Paul Schutze, Abysmal Evenings, Virgin AMBT 19 7243 8 42175 2 5
Dave Soldier, Smut, Avant CD 019
La Monte Young, The Second Dream of the High-Tension Stepdown Line Transformer, includes liner notes essay by Neill, Gramavision CD R279467