It was difficult for me to decide which artist to explore first. However, the moment I was exposed to the musical stylings of Ben Sollee, there was no doubt in my mind he is the most worthy contender. WOW.
Check this video out for a lil audio sneak peek of this talented gent. You'll also see a million videos of him performing live. Definitely worth getting distracted for a while...More after the jump.
A child of the 80s and raised in Kentucky, Ben started playing the cello in elementary school and lists his inspirations as Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Billie Holiday, and Ray Charles. He went on to train in classical cello and never let the beat drop. In 2005, a very lucky Ben joined Abigail Washburn (banjo, vocals), Bela Fleck (banjo MASTER), and Casey Driessen (violin) in The Sparrow Quartet. Then in 2007, Ben was named one of NPR's "Top Ten Great Unknown Artists" of the year.
--He has since been featured on both NPR's All Things Considered and the PBS series On Canvas (a must-see), both in 2008.
NPR calls Ben's Learning to Bend "an inspired collection of acoustic, folk and jazz-flavored songs, filled with hope and the earnest belief that the world is good."
May 2008 marked the release of Ben's first EP If You're Gonna Lead My Country (Yep, you guessed it-- Ben writes music that occasionally takes a stance on politics-usually poverty and environmental issues. But don't worry--it isn't so in your face that it will distract you from the soulful music he writes, plays, and sings.) One month later, Learning to Bend, Ben's first solo album was released. Believe me, it is basically amazing from beginning to end, which is not something I get to say very often. Ben's music blends several genres, including bluegrass, folk, and blues. It is impossible to get bored listening to his songs, as each time you'll notice some new piece of genius. His percussive technique of playing his cello is glorious and almost other-worldly. And wait until you hear his touching, heartfelt lyrics and smooth, rich voice, which play off of each other beautifully. I'd recommend How to See the Sun Rise or A Few Honest Words as a couple of great places to start. Also, Ben wrote his own adaptation of Sam Cooke's A Change Is Gonna Come, which is more than worth checking out.
These days, Ben uses his mad cello, writing, and vocal skills to rock our faces off. Ben has paired up with such amazing musicians as Vienna Teng and The Paper Raincoat, Daniel Martin Moore, Yim Yames of My Morning Jacket and Monsters of Folk. Ben has performed all over the US, including 2010's Telluride Bluegrass Festival, and 2011's Bonnaroo--both as a stand-alone artist & with My Morning Jacket. His latest album, Inclusions, out in 2011, shows no sign of the sophomore slip we see so often from songwriters of our day. Support this man, check him out, tell a friend, go to a show. You will NOT be disappointed.
Recap:
Ben Sollee: cellist/songwriter/vocalist/environmental activist
Musical Style: folk, bluegrass, pop, R & B, blues, soul
More Info: bensollee.com NPR Artists: Ben Sollee
Upcoming Shows:
Dec. 29, 2011: KFTC Benefit with Yim Yames and Daniel Martin Moore
Comments from Others:
--NPR's Terri Gross: "remarkably soulful voice"
--Sub Pop Records: "Every song is a fine, perfect creation, and they all hang together to form a true album that can be listened to from start to finish in the same way a rich, layered novel can be read."My Rating:
I hope you guys enjoy. Please feel free to leave feedback, comments, requests, suggestions...
Have an amazing day.
XOXO
J
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