Ben Aronov

Benjamin James Aronov, known as Ben or Benny (born October 16, 1932, Gary, Indiana - died May 3, 2015, Aix-en-Provence) was an American jazz pianist.

Aronov played in local jazz and dance ensembles as a teenager in Tulsa. He was a student at the University of Tulsa in 1951-1952, then was conscripted into the U.S. Army and was stationed in Texas, where he played in a military band. In 1954 he relocated to Los Angeles and began playing at The Lighthouse, as well as with musicians such as Terry Gibbs, June Christy, and Lena Horne. In 1961 he moved again to New York City and enrolled at the Manhattan School of Music, graduating with a bachelor's in music in 1966. Following this, he worked with Al Cohn, Benny Goodman, Jim Hall, Morgana King, Lee Konitz, Peggy Lee, Liza Minnelli, George Mraz, Mark Murphy, the National Jazz Ensemble, Ken Peplowski, Tom Pierson, Zoot Sims, Carol Sloane, and Warren Vache. He was also a pianist in the Broadway production of Cats from 1982 to 2000. After this he moved to France, where he remained until his death in 2015.

References

• Gary W. Kennedy, "Ben Aronov". The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz. 2nd edition, ed. Barry Kernfeld.