BEN ARNOLD
''SIMPLIFY''
SEPTEMBER 21 2010
42:12
1. Depend On Love/2:47
2. Simplify/3:46
3. Slow Learner/4:09
4. Baby, Let The Tears Roll Down/3:21
5. Love Don't Lie/4:04
6. Fishin'/4:55
7. O'Holy Ghost/3:54
8. Breakfast For Dinner/2:54
9. Woman's Intuition/3:56
10. Upstate New York White Out/4:14
11. Watching The Wheels/Lennon/4:12
Tracks By Arnold, Except 11
Ben Arnold/Guitar (Acoustic), Harmonica, Piano, Piano (Electric)
Jim Boggia/Guitar, Vocals (Background)
Zach Djanikian/Bass (Electric), Vocals (Background)
Adam Flicker/Organ (Hammond), Trumpet
Mia Johnson/Vocals (Background)
Matt Kass/Guitar (Electric)
Jason Loughlin/Guitar (Electric)
Barrie Maguire/Guitar
Jaclyn Marie/Vocals (Background)
Matt Muir/Drums, Percussion, Vocals (Background)
Lee Schusterman/Piano
ABOUT
Ben Arnold has been playing some of the most soulful sounds in and around the Northeastern parts of USA for the last 15 years. He has written and co-produced his own multiple releases as well as with other projects US Rails, Pistol For Ringo and 4 Way Street. He has released records on Sony/Columbia, SCI Fidelity Records, Ropeadope Records and Sanctuary/BMG as well as a handful of independent projects. In the 90's he was a featured often on French radio and appeared on Canal Plus' most popular television talk show. More recently he toured parts of Europe with the band US Rails (featuring Joseph Parsons, Tom Gillam and Scott Bricklin) who released their self-titled CD with Blue Rose Records last year. Ben is excited to be releasing his solo debut SIMPLIFY with Blue Rose as well. The new disc has been a favorite of Triple A radio in the U.S. where he has appeared twice on The World Cafe, NPR Radios' Mountain Stage, as well as numerous live concert and television appearances around the region and across the globe. He plays guitar, piano, sings, records and collaborates with many other well-known artists from his home town in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and far beyond.
Although he was born in the former steel industry town of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he grew up mainly in the city center of Philadelphia attending Philadelphia's High School for Performing Arts. Some of his earliest musical memories are of his musical mother, the incessant whistling of his father and an old Lester piano in the living room where he would listen when family friends would come over, drink a little too much bourbon and water and play from songbooks of the 1940's through early 70's. Bacharach and David, Sinatra, Johnny Mathis, Gershwin & Nat King Cole all played with the flourish you'd expect in any hotel lobby, but with passion and, if possible, soul. Grand arpeggiations and glissandos and extended runs all based around simple piano chords
and melodies or jazzy substitutions. It mesmerized and inspired. His mother, a part time cabaret and show singer, had Ben singing at a young age, as well as his brother and sister. Surely some of Arnold's improvisational skills, timing and phrasing are a gift from her. His sister also played a little guitar, banjo and mandolin. His brother was involved in theater.
After a move to Philadelphia just before high school age, many nights were spent alone at home, in his room listening over and over to whatever the record of the week was, be it by The Beatles, solo McCartney stuff, All Things Must Pass; Harrison, Elton's Tumbleweed Connection plus the obligatory Springsteen, Zeppelin, The Band, Dylan, or even Yes, Cheap Trick and Supertramp for that matter. He would fall asleep to the sounds of AM soft rock radio playing as quiet as it could so it would not awake anyone else. There were some great melodies to be heard in all that Leo Sayer, Bread and Bee Gees. Not long after the house was filled with the songs of Neil Young, Van Morrison and The Grateful Dead, followed shortly after by The Clash, Costello, Marley, new wave, who wave, anything that annoyed his mother. Arnold possesses a deep and rich musical listening history rooted in the classics yet he bends all the well worn tales and melodies to his own tune. He applies this well to his own craft and work ethic. That said, this quote by Van Morrison sums up best what motivates Ben Arnold and his fans and friends alike can see how true it is with each collection of music he delivers and each show he performs. "Do what you like. This is what I like and that's what I'm doing." -Van Morrison Ben has covered a lot of musical ground in his many records. His latest SIMPLIFY on Blue Rose Records is organic, bluesy and even funky at times. More so than any of his other releases. With Ben featured on piano and guitar, it is at times both gospel and spiritual as well as grooving, moving and electric. It was recorded live, over 3 days in Philadelphia, PA co-produced with Barrie Maguire (Natalie Merchant, The Wallflowers & Amos Lee) along with some of the most talented players and people Ben knows.
''SIMPLIFY''
SEPTEMBER 21 2010
42:12
1. Depend On Love/2:47
2. Simplify/3:46
3. Slow Learner/4:09
4. Baby, Let The Tears Roll Down/3:21
5. Love Don't Lie/4:04
6. Fishin'/4:55
7. O'Holy Ghost/3:54
8. Breakfast For Dinner/2:54
9. Woman's Intuition/3:56
10. Upstate New York White Out/4:14
11. Watching The Wheels/Lennon/4:12
Tracks By Arnold, Except 11
Ben Arnold/Guitar (Acoustic), Harmonica, Piano, Piano (Electric)
Jim Boggia/Guitar, Vocals (Background)
Zach Djanikian/Bass (Electric), Vocals (Background)
Adam Flicker/Organ (Hammond), Trumpet
Mia Johnson/Vocals (Background)
Matt Kass/Guitar (Electric)
Jason Loughlin/Guitar (Electric)
Barrie Maguire/Guitar
Jaclyn Marie/Vocals (Background)
Matt Muir/Drums, Percussion, Vocals (Background)
Lee Schusterman/Piano
ABOUT
Ben Arnold has been playing some of the most soulful sounds in and around the Northeastern parts of USA for the last 15 years. He has written and co-produced his own multiple releases as well as with other projects US Rails, Pistol For Ringo and 4 Way Street. He has released records on Sony/Columbia, SCI Fidelity Records, Ropeadope Records and Sanctuary/BMG as well as a handful of independent projects. In the 90's he was a featured often on French radio and appeared on Canal Plus' most popular television talk show. More recently he toured parts of Europe with the band US Rails (featuring Joseph Parsons, Tom Gillam and Scott Bricklin) who released their self-titled CD with Blue Rose Records last year. Ben is excited to be releasing his solo debut SIMPLIFY with Blue Rose as well. The new disc has been a favorite of Triple A radio in the U.S. where he has appeared twice on The World Cafe, NPR Radios' Mountain Stage, as well as numerous live concert and television appearances around the region and across the globe. He plays guitar, piano, sings, records and collaborates with many other well-known artists from his home town in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and far beyond.
Although he was born in the former steel industry town of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he grew up mainly in the city center of Philadelphia attending Philadelphia's High School for Performing Arts. Some of his earliest musical memories are of his musical mother, the incessant whistling of his father and an old Lester piano in the living room where he would listen when family friends would come over, drink a little too much bourbon and water and play from songbooks of the 1940's through early 70's. Bacharach and David, Sinatra, Johnny Mathis, Gershwin & Nat King Cole all played with the flourish you'd expect in any hotel lobby, but with passion and, if possible, soul. Grand arpeggiations and glissandos and extended runs all based around simple piano chords
and melodies or jazzy substitutions. It mesmerized and inspired. His mother, a part time cabaret and show singer, had Ben singing at a young age, as well as his brother and sister. Surely some of Arnold's improvisational skills, timing and phrasing are a gift from her. His sister also played a little guitar, banjo and mandolin. His brother was involved in theater.
After a move to Philadelphia just before high school age, many nights were spent alone at home, in his room listening over and over to whatever the record of the week was, be it by The Beatles, solo McCartney stuff, All Things Must Pass; Harrison, Elton's Tumbleweed Connection plus the obligatory Springsteen, Zeppelin, The Band, Dylan, or even Yes, Cheap Trick and Supertramp for that matter. He would fall asleep to the sounds of AM soft rock radio playing as quiet as it could so it would not awake anyone else. There were some great melodies to be heard in all that Leo Sayer, Bread and Bee Gees. Not long after the house was filled with the songs of Neil Young, Van Morrison and The Grateful Dead, followed shortly after by The Clash, Costello, Marley, new wave, who wave, anything that annoyed his mother. Arnold possesses a deep and rich musical listening history rooted in the classics yet he bends all the well worn tales and melodies to his own tune. He applies this well to his own craft and work ethic. That said, this quote by Van Morrison sums up best what motivates Ben Arnold and his fans and friends alike can see how true it is with each collection of music he delivers and each show he performs. "Do what you like. This is what I like and that's what I'm doing." -Van Morrison Ben has covered a lot of musical ground in his many records. His latest SIMPLIFY on Blue Rose Records is organic, bluesy and even funky at times. More so than any of his other releases. With Ben featured on piano and guitar, it is at times both gospel and spiritual as well as grooving, moving and electric. It was recorded live, over 3 days in Philadelphia, PA co-produced with Barrie Maguire (Natalie Merchant, The Wallflowers & Amos Lee) along with some of the most talented players and people Ben knows.
