Ben Baldwin is a dynamic and versatile saxophonist who has been making waves in the music industry since 2021. Best known for his work as a freelance performer, arranger, and recording artist, Ben is an exciting and adaptable musician, praised for his creativity and range. He leads the ‘Brass-Driven’ funk powerhouse Third Floor; performs regularly with Sass & the Groove and Split Reeds; and has made appearances at top venues such as the Royal Albert Hall (London), O2 Academy Manchester & Birmingham, and De Montfort Hall (Leicester). His festival credits include Kendal Calling, BeatHerder, Green Man and Leeds Pride, where he’s shared his infectious energy with thousands.

In addition to his live work, Ben is a sought-after session musician & arranger. His recording credits include Bea Badilla’s debut single, I Think That I’m in Love (La La La), which since its release in February 2025 has earned 2 BBC Introducing radio plays and almost 5000 streams on Spotify alone. Ben currently works as the in-house arranger for Sass & The Groove, Third Floor Soul, Split Reeds and Badilla. He also frequently works freelance with clients on orchestral, big band, and chamber group arrangements tailored to their ensemble’s specific needs. See more details about Ben’s arranging work here.

Whilst funk, soul and jazz is his first love, Ben’s classical chops are equally refined, he is currently studying for his Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire under Naomi Sullivan (Laefer Quartet, Flotilla, Syzygy) and Anna Brooks (Jools Holland, Brooklyn Funk Essentials). In addition to this, Ben is a founding member of The Split Reeds Quintet (SRQ), one of the UK’s premier reed quintets. With SRQ Ben has given the world premiere of works by David Cowdy and Chang Ge’s and has performed at the Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ in Amsterdam for the Calefax Reed Festival 2025. Check out more about SRQ here.

Ben draws inspiration from a wide spectrum of saxophonists across genres, shaping his distinctive voice as both a performer and arranger. In pop and funk, his style reflects the energy and groove of Candy Dulfer, Gerald Albright, Marc Russo, and his mentor Anna Brooks. His jazz playing is deeply influenced by the expressive language of Michael Brecker, Patrick Bartley, Eddie Barbash, and Tom Scott. On the classical side, Ben has been guided by Naomi Sullivan and receives regular coaching from renowned saxophonists Kyle Horch and Andy Tweed. He also takes inspiration from leading classical voices such as Timothy McAllister, Nobuya Sugawa, Claude Delangle. His development has been further enriched by attending masterclasses with internationally acclaimed artists including Delangle, Asya Fateyeva, Jess Gillam, Henrique Portovedo, and João Pedro Silva.

As a soloist, Ben has performed alongside various local ensembles with particular highlights including his performances with Holme Valley Orchestra (Light of Sothis, Quate, arr. Baldwin), the Holy Name Consort (Parce Mihi Domine, Morales/Garbarek) and Musica Youth Jazz Orchestra (Against All Odds, Phil Collins Big Band/Albright), showcasing his ability to move fluidly across genres and settings.

Equally at home in contemporary classical, jazz, funk, ska, and rock, Ben’s performances range from the UK premiere of Arthur Feder’s
It was without for saxophone quartet to jumping on cars at BeatHerder festival with the 10-piece funky-horn-juggernaut DeadBeat Brass. Whether he’s lighting up festival stages or captivating intimate venues, Ben Baldwin “tells a story with every performance” and is a musician whose versatility, passion, and creative flair make him a standout force on the UK music scene.