The Ben Diagram Duo
Nostalgia Fishtown
14 Jefferson St.
Philadelphia
July 28, 2026
Located in a garage at Front and Jefferson right by the EL is Nostalgia Fishtown, one of the freshest new venues in Philly. Founded by Joe Lockwood and Morgan Walbridge, Nostalgia is a multi-use space that sells vintage t-shirts, in addition to hosting live music events. A funky and intimate spot about five minutes from my house, I knew I had to pop in and check out a show from Nostalgia’s growing calendar of emerging and independent artists.
On Tuesday, July 28, Nostalgia Fishtown hosted The Ben Diagram Duo, a steel pan and tuba ensemble made up of drummer Ben Goldman and tubist Ben Vasko. As two self-described jazz school dropouts, Goldman and Vasko initially joined forces while playing with The Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass. Bonding over a shared love of Caribbean calypso, jazz and the avant-garde. Tonight’s set featured Goldman playing steel pan and a drum kit simultaneously while Vasko played tuba. The result was a playful and creative set of music that traversed genres and eras freely.
The set opened with a handful of familiar classics before launching into Goldman’s original composition “Marmalade,” a song that Goldman joked got its name “because “it’s a jam!” Inspired by Western minimalist composers Steve Reich and Phillip Glass, “Marmalade” opened with Goldman playing a beautiful motif that led into a bopping hip hop groove. The weight of Goldman’s drumming was contrasted with some gorgeous soft sections, striking balance between a robust rhythm and stripped down minimalism. Vasko then addressed the crowd and introduced two standards; Fats Waller’s “Ain’t Misbehaving” and Richard Rodgers’ “It's Easy to Remember.” Vasko in particular shined on “Ain’t Misbehaving,” his Tuba mirroring both the dexterous left hand and nimble right hand of Waller’s piano style. Whether they were playing bold original material or putting a new spin on the classics, The Ben Diagram Duo make a strong case for steel pan and tuba’s potential as vehicles for improvisation and composition.
