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Ben Levin — piano/vocalsArt Gore - drums
Sean Carney — guitar/vocals
Walter Cash Jr. — bass
Ben Levin is a blues pianist/vocalist from Cincinnati, OH. Ben has released four albums on the Vizztone label and has two Blues Music Award nominations and five Blues Blast Awards nominations.
Ben's latest album, "Take Your Time," featured collaborations with Blues legends Lil' Ed, Bob Stroger, and Lil'Jimmy Reed. Based on the success of their single "I've Been Drinking Muddy Water," Ben and Lil' Jimmy collaborated again in the studio, with Ben producing and co-writing songs with Jimmy. "Back to Baton Rouge" was released in May 2023 on NOLA Blue and reached number two on the Living Blues radio charts.
"Both musicians have perfectly matched and understood themselves to give us a repertoire that includes five covers and five original songs that are a heartfelt tribute to the most traditional old-time blues.
A magnificent and mandatory to listen album, one of those small treasures which are barely recorded, to be deeply savored in these times of modernity and technology."
-La Hora De Blues (Spain)
Ben also released an EP on Vizztone, "Waiting Just For You," in October 2023 with jazz vocalist Stella Heath. The two musicians collaborated on four duets with an all-star rhythm section, including Jim Anderson on upright bass and Art Gore on drums.
"With Stella’s background in jazz and a love for blues, and Ben’s background in blues with a love for jazz, the two met musically in the middle. “Waiting Just For You” showcases four duets in a style where blues and jazz intersect to create a beautiful, classic sound."
-American Blues Scene
Art Gore's drumming style is characterized by signature driving cymbal beats, crisp, sharp snare accents, and well-placed bass drum "bombs." During his six-decade career, he has performed and recorded with such artists as George Benson, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Lonnie Liston Smith, Pharoah Sanders, Woody Shaw, Larry Young, Bobby Watson, Freddie Hubbard, John Scofield, Hank Marr, J.J. Johnson, Joey Defrancesco, Kenny Dorham, Hank Crawford, James Moody, and Ahmad Jamal, to name a few. Dr. Lonnie Smith has said of Art, "Art has the kind of rhythm and drive that's always right there."
Art Gore was born into a family of musicians, which began his early exposure to music. By age sixteen, he was playing professionally. After graduating high school, Art attended Berklee College of Music and was drafted into the armed forces for two years. His musical development continued by playing with the First Armored Division Band and orchestra and leading his groups.
After serving in the military, Art attended the Berklee College of Music, where he studied with renowned drum instructor Alan Dawson and later at the New England Conservatory of Music under Vic Firth. In 1972, Art joined Dr. Lonnie Smith, leading to traveling and recording with the Grammy-winning guitarist and vocalist George Benson.
Upon leaving George Benson's band, Art began working with Lonnie Liston Smith. Art's recordings with Lonnie were some of the most important of his early career. Many jazz enthusiasts consider one of the recordings, "Expansions" (RCA 1975), a jazz-fusion classic. "Voodoo Woman," one of the compositions that Art recorded with Lonnie, is included in the Recommended Recordings of the Decade for the Smithsonian Collection of Jazz in the Seventies.
A $15 food/drink minimum is charged per person in the party, per set, if the total for beverages purchased by the party does not meet the minimum.
Important Notices:
If you do not check in by 15 minutes into the start of the set, we reserve the right to resale your seats with no refund.
There are no refunds within 24 hours of the start of the performance.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Caffè Vivace - Cincinnati, OH, 975 East McMillan,Cincinnati, United States
Tickets
