Benjamin Sher

Benjamin Sher is a Professor in the Guitar Department at Berklee College of Music, where he has taught for 27 years, and serves as director of guitar studies at Kutztown University. His academic work focuses on specialized guitar instruction including Guitar Styles of Grant Green and Pat Martino, Advanced Brazilian Guitar Styles, and ensemble courses in Brazilian and Latin Fusion.

With deep expertise spanning the jazz tradition of Wes Montgomery and Kenny Burrell alongside Brazilian masters like Baden Powell and João Gilberto, Sher's research interests encompass Jazz Guitar, Brazilian Music, Latin Jazz, and Guitar Education. His teaching synthesizes classical fingerstyle technique with jazz plectrum approaches to create diverse sonic textures.

Sher's creative output demonstrates consistent evolution across Brazilian jazz fusion, with his most recent 2023 album Samba for Tarsila representing a mature synthesis of American jazz guitar tradition and Brazilian rhythms. His discography reveals progression from mainstream jazz through Brazilian exploration to contemporary fusion works.

• Choro Novo Berklee Guitar Ensemble for Outstanding Latin Jazz Group Award (2019-2024)

As an educator, Sher has developed specialized pedagogical materials for teaching diverse guitar styles and has presented masterclasses internationally at institutions including New England Conservatory, University of North Carolina campuses, and Berklee's Valencia campus. His professional performance career spans four decades with appearances at major international festivals including Montreux, North Sea, and Istanbul Jazz Festivals.

Sher leads multiple ensembles including the Antropofagia Organ Trio, Choro Novo Guitar Quartet, and the World Jazz Guitar Duo, maintaining active performance schedules in New York and internationally while continuing his academic responsibilities.