Ben grew up in Andover, Massachusetts. He spent his high school years with trombonist Phil Wilson and vocal teacher Earl Miller. During his summers, he studied with German trombonist Jiggs Whigham. After attending Berklee College of Music in Boston, Ben moved to Oregon and completed his Bachelor of Music in Jazz at Portland State University. He spent seven years teaching at Portland’s Wilson High School and then started PYJO with wife, Michelle Medler. Ben Medler is a talented mulit-instrumentalist performing and teaching: trombone, acoustic and electric bass, trumpet and vocals. He is on faculty at Portland State University in the Jazz department & as a Trombone instructor at Lewis & Clark College. Ben is the current bandleader & musical director of The Shanghai Woolies. He also directs and composes for Mystery Seed, Trombone 8 and the Trombone Encounters Project and is an active freelance musician in all styles. Ben has performed with Randy Brecker, The Rebirth Brass Band, The Temptations, Yoron Israel, Rick Peckham, The Heavy Brothers, Darrell Grant, Bob Mintzer, Latin Expression, Cambalache & many others.
