Heirloom is one of Milwaukee’s most innovative and sought after jazz bands. Heirloom’s unique sound captivates audiences through soaring melodies, intriguing rhythms, and magnetic attention to detail.

Heirloom is made up of core members Ben Dameron, guitar, and Hannah Johnson, drums, as well as tenor saxophonist Sam Taylor and bassist Tim Ipsen.

  • Ben Dameron

    Ben Dameron’s sound is a unique mix of polytonal, motif-driven phrase structures littered with fiery runs, and a truly expressive touch.

    Ben Dameron studied classical and jazz guitar in his teens with Kevin Callahan in Seattle before pursuing two classical guitar degrees. Since then, Dameron has been an active and sought after guitarist in the greater Milwaukee area.

  • Hannah Johnson

    Drummer, composer, singer and humorist, Hannah Johnson provides an adventurous and joyful approach in her musical endeavors. In Heirloom she offers an optimism in spirit and compositional voice. The awe of rhythm, emotionally moving harmonic structures and the beauty of a bit of chaos drives Hannah's musical approach.

    Hannah Johnson began her drum studies in high school with native Milwaukee drummer Dave Bayles. After graduating from the IU Jacobs School of Music, Hannah returned to her hometown and has become a favored drummer in the local jazz scene.

  • Tim Ipsen

    Tim Ipsen is a Kenosha native, he studied music at Columbia College of Chicago and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance - Jazz Studies. He has performed extensively throughout Chicago, Milwaukee, and the Midwest. Music has taken him all over the country, Europe and China. Performance opportunities have included great jazz artists such as Jon Faddis, Cedar Walton, Curtis Fuller, Von Freeman and Marquis Hill among others.

    “Bassist Tim Ipsen steps in like a heady middleweight contender, with a sly combination of punchy harmonic intervals.” - Kevin Lynch

  • Sam Taylor

    Sam Taylor is a saxophonist, composer and educator based in Chicago after spending almost 10 years in New Orleans. Originally from South Florida, Sam has performed with International artists such as The Temptations, Chicago and Marcus Roberts as well as New Orleans jazz legends Jason Marsalis, Roland Guerin and Steve Masakowski.

    In Chicago Sam has a year round residency at Andy’s Jazz Club with Mario Abney & The Abney Effect every Tuesday night. In addition to keeping a busy performance schedule, Sam has taught clinics and masterclasses at Tulane University, University of New Orleans, New Orleans Center for Creative Arts High School and the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music.