Live Music w/Ben Levin!
Schedule
Thu Sep 19 2024 at 09:00 pm to 11:30 pm
UTC-04:00Location
Liberty Exhibition Hall | Cincinnati, OH
Ben Levin is playing jazz and blues for us! We have plenty of seating and floor space for dancing!
Drinks will be available for purchase.
Cost: $15 (includes beginner swing lesson)
Beginner Swing Lesson: 8:30pm
At only 22 years old, Ben Levin is already making his mark as a blues pianist, vocalist, and songwriter. Ben has been nominated for a Blues Music Award and two Blues Blast Magazine Awards. Based in Cincinnati, OH, Ben has been playing 100 shows a year since he was 15 years old, embracing the authentic sound of his heroes such as Professor Longhair, Pinetop Perkins, Otis Spann, and Ray Charles. According to Bill Wilson from Reflections in Blue, “Ben Levin is GOOD…Learning at the feet of established masters and from the greatest recordings of all time; he has a deep love for the instrument and for the music.”
At 17 Ben self-released his debut CD, Ben’s Blues, which included four original songs sprinkled in with covers of Professor Longhair, Big Maceo, John Lee Hooker, and others. Ben’s Blues was nominated for two Blues Blast Awards, best debut CD and Sean Costello “Rising Star” awards. The CD led to invitations for Ben to play at festivals and clubs in Europe, with Ben playing the prestigious LaRoquebrou (France) Boogie/Blues festival in summer 2017 and Beauforthuis Festival (Netherlands) and UK Boogie Fest in 2018. These tours also included performances at clubs in London and Amsterdam.
At the start of 2020, Ben continued to play his local gigs while he finished his Sophomore year of College. In the summer of 2020, Ben recorded his 3rd album, Carryout Or Delivery. The album was released in the fall by Vizztone Label Group, receiving high acclaim around the world, and debuting in the top 50 on radio-based charts such as Living Blues, Roots Music Report, and Australian Blues and Roots. Carryout Or Delivery also debuted in the top 10 for blues albums on iTunes.
Ben continued to gig around Cincinnati in 2021 and played his first gig in Chicago at Rosa's Lounge. He was honored to lead the all-star band that included blues legends Bob Stroger and Jimmy Burns. Ben also organized his first concert series, seven blues brunches, at the Hard Rock Casino in Cincinnati. He featured elder statesmen of the blues such as Bob Stroger and Lil' Jimmy Reed, along with labelmate Hanna PK.
