Ben Sollee: Local Louisville artist on the Rise

Ben Sollee
Originally uploaded by Kingsnake

Here is Ben Solllee (recent UofL grad and extremely talented dude who toured with Bella Fleck last year)
Here is the bio from his website www.bensollee.com
It was the cat-poles around the lake at his grandfather’s farm that inspired Ben Sollee’s debut album Learning To Bend. The frailty of those awkward looking plants standing stoutly against winds that challenged even the strongest of nearby trees is an affecting metaphor for human struggle and perseverance. This idea is central to Learning To Bend.

Key tracks on Learning To Bend include two reactions to the current political landscape, “A Few Honest Words,” and an adaptation of Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come,” in which Ben has written updated, politically relevant verses. Other highlights of the album are the playful, soul track, “How To See the Sun Rise” and the vulnerable yet insistent “It’s Not Impossible,” where Ben laments the unfortunate status quo that “boys don’t cry.”

Ben has found considerable success in recent years through his ability to bend. In 2007, he was named one of NPR’s “Top Ten Unknown Artists of the Year.” His distinctive cello technique and soulful voice have been marinating for years in his work with avant-garde bluesman Otis Taylor, The Sparrow Quartet, (featuring banjo-master Béla Fleck), and on the internationally known Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour.

Ben’s unique performance experience and creative vision trump his 24 years and traditional classical training; he is poised to emerge as a solo artist, bridging genres and demographics with earnest and dynamic songwriting. However, the single most salient quality of Learning to Bend, is Ben’s contagiously optimistic worldview. Ben is not just expressing his personal quest for flexibility, he is asking the entire country to learn to bend, learn how to cry, learn how to see the sun rise… He is at the forefront of a movement that is happening right now: a zeitgeist in which a nation can face reality and empower itself to evolve and feel deeply and stand up for the power of hope.

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=57066003

Ciao for now.

Rusted Root is sounding great as ever!

0275 Rusted Root
Originally uploaded by simpsonradio

Just listening to some tracks from the upcoming Rusted Root cd "Stereo Rodeo", set for release on 3/17. they are sounding as organic, vibrant and lively as ever! If you are not aware of Rusted Root, you need to check them out. Theirs is a sound of americana meets jam band. With a diversity of instrumentation they bridge a gap between folk, rock, funk and jam that makes for a great sound. They have toured with Robert Plant back in the 90's, so they have been around for a while, but they are still churning out great tunage.
Here are some dates coming up:
Mar 14 2009 8:00P Kent Stage Kent, Ohio
Mar 20 2009 9:00P Spring Jam Core Party Aspen, Colorado
Mar 27 2009 8:30P Hard Rock Cafe - Niagara Falls Niagara Falls
Apr 4 2009 8:00P The State Theatre State College, Pennsylvania
Apr 10 2009 10:00P Cubby Bear Lounge Chicago, Illinois
May 1 2009 9:00P Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - Las Vegas, Nevada Jun 26 2009 8:30PDavid Ulrich City Courtyard Lockport, New York
Jul 5 2009 8:00P Great Blue Heron FestivalJamestown, New York
Jul 23 2009 9:00P Riverside Park Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Sep 6 2009 7:30PHartwood Acres Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Check 'em out and buy their new cd!

Bela Fleck - Flecktones Saturday Dec 6 in Louisville!

Bela Fleck and FutureMan
Originally uploaded by Melissa Vivari

If you have never seen or heard of Bela Fleck, shame on you. He will be appearing at the Kentucky Center for the Arts on Saturday, December 6th.
Bela Fleck and his band, the Flecktones morph all musical boundaries in their sound. Bela is a banjo virtuoso who plays classical, folk, jazz and bluegrass with equal ease. Bassist Victor Wooten is a virtuoso of the funk slap bass, and a very melodic player as well. Wooten's brother, known as "FutureMan" plays a drumitar. This is an instrument he invented that is shaped like a guitar, but features drum triggers that he plays with his fingers. The sound is amazing, and he can do things an accoustic drummer can not. Other musicians may or may not be part of the sound, but that is the core of the Flecktones lineup. One of my favorite cd's to chill out to is "Live at the Quick" which is a 2002 release. I cannot recommend this recording ENOUGH. I am not one to rave about artists or cd's, but I do this one...
If you are in Louisville and want some great entertainment, or if you are elsewhere, check out his tour schedule. It is worth the effort.