BEN HAMMOND: [Reasonably] Honest

Ben Hammond

[Reasonably] Honest

© 2008 Ben Hammond (796873031561)

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This full band acoustic soul-pop rock hybrid album features his engaging, soulful vocals weaved within a framework of genre-shifting accompaniment which provides a platform for contemplative, understated lyrics.

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Bio/Background Information:
Born in the tiny town of Hiram, Maine and graduated in 2006 with a degree in Music Technology from McGill University in Montreal, Ben Hammond has since been touring (from his home in rural New England to New Zealand) and playing his unique brand of Acoustic Soul-Pop at a variety of festivals (Montreal Jazz Festival, Portland Old Port Fest) and hundreds of venues (Montreal’s Sala Rossa and Metropolis, Town Hall in NYC). In March 2008 Ben completed his full length studio album “[Reasonably] Honest” with a full band and Downbeat Magazine award winning mixer Reuben Ghose, which has garnered him radio interviews and airplay across the Northeast (see below). On June 10th, 2008 Ben played to a sold out crowd (200+ people, 17$ tickets, no opener) for his official hometown album launch at the breathtaking Stone Mountain Arts Center in Maine, which has featured such greats as Bela Fleck and the Indigo Girls.

Schooled in jazz, raised on rock, immersed in soul, and fascinated with music the world over, Ben can just as easily be found strumming and singing a ballad as he can live looping an a cappella improvisation of Tuvan throat singing, beatboxing, and harmonized scatting. When performing his composed material, either as a soloist or with his quartet, the music features Ben’s engaging, soulful vocals weaved within a framework of genre-shifting instrumentation, providing a platform for his subtle, contemplative lyrics.

Broadcast/Airplay:
- Live performances on 89.5FM (CIUT Toronto), 90.3FM (CKUT Montreal), 89.3FM (WHSN Bangor, ME) 100.3FM (WKIT Bangor, ME) 89.9FM (WERU Blue Hill, ME) 90.9FM (WMPG Portland, ME)
- “[Reasonably] Honest” and “No History Sessions” in rotation on all above stations plus many more including: 91.3FM (WUNH Durham, NH), 91.1FM (WMUA Amherst, MA), 96.5FM (WSLR Sarasota, FL), 93.5FM (WMWV Conway, NH), 95.9FM (WATD Boston, MA) IndieTalent.ca Web Radio, Martha’s Vineyard Web Radio (mvyradio.com), and dozens of podcasts around the world.
- Channel 3 Valley Vision in North Conway, NH.
- Live Performance on CTV in Montreal with Effusion A Cappella Recording Appearances:
- Ben Hammond “[Reasonably] Honest” ‘08 and “No History Sessions EP” ‘06
- Guest on Renee Lee “Maple Groove” 2004 – Justin Time Records
- Effusion A Cappella “Unrestrained” 2006 and “Movin’ Away” 2002 Recent and Upcoming Album Release Tour Dates:
- May 15th in Bucksport, ME w/ Tracy Grammer at Alamo Theater
- May 19th in Somerville, MA at the Abbey Lounge with Band
- June 1st in Portland, ME at the Old Port Festival
- June 10th in Brownfield, ME at Stone Mountain Arts Center
- June 19th in NYC at Googie’s Lounge (up @ the Living Room)
- June 20th in Asbury Park, NJ at the Wave Gathering Festival
- June 25th in Toronto, ON at the Central with White Room

Festival Appearances:
- Old Port Fest and Pride Festival in Portland, ME
- Solarfest in Tinmouth, VT One of 10 Finalists in Songwriter Contest
- Wave Gathering in Monmouth, NJ
- With Joel Miller Mandala at the Montreal Jazz Festival
- Opened for Entrain at the North Conway Arts in the Park, NH
- Sarasota Arts Day Festival, Sarasota FL
- Festival 500 in St Johns, Newfoundland with Bobby McFerrin

Press/Quotes:
- “[This] singer-songwriter does a lot more than just play guitar; he beat boxes, circuit bends and writes damned good songs… his new CD, [Reasonably] Honest, has ten tracks that weave in and out of jazz, rock, reggae, rap and pop while staying true to a sound that is definitely Ben Hammond. [He] sounds, vocally, like Jamie Cullum and John Mayer and has a bouncy guitar style with great backbeats that remind me of Jack Johnson. The thing that sets him apart from those guys is his ability to blur the line between jazz, pop and hip-hop and do it so that it doesn't sound forced.” Darryl Gregory at Indie-Music.com

“The 10 songs on "Honest" encompass a spectrum of styles and expression. "Let's Get Alone" is soulful and driven, "It's OK" is a song with a swollen heart …"Touch" is a spring-loaded toe tapper with… a funky sheen. "Start Breathing" turns in on itself through Hammond's lovelorn
lyrics, sung with a controlled fervor that both sooths and burns. Congrats, Ben, on the standout record” Aimsel Ponti, Portland Press Herald

“The songs on “[Reasonably] Honest” may seem like a straightforward collection of love songs, but there’s more going on. Hammond begins with the formula of a love ballad and gives it a twist. His songs feature conflict and struggle. They aren’t all sunshine and rainbows. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Hammond is willing to go beyond the superficial and brush up against darker themes.” Alec Kerr, Conway Daily Sun

Please view website for lyrics, video and more info.

reviews

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  • [Reasonably] Honest Review from Indie-Music.com
    author: Review by Darryl Gregory

    So any singer-songwriter that owns, knows how to use, and then puts on their CD the Theremin has got my attention. Even if it is for only one track, it piqued my interest, and as I scanned down the page I noticed that this singer-songwriter does a lot more than just play guitar; he beat boxes, circuit bends and writes damned good songs. The writer in question is Ben Hammond and his new CD, [Reasonably] Honest, has ten tracks that weave in and out of jazz, rock, reggae, rap and pop while staying true to a sound that is definitely Ben Hammond. Hammond sounds, vocally, like Jamie Cullum and John Mayer and has a bouncy guitar style with great backbeats that remind me of Jack Johnson. The thing that sets him apart from those guys is his ability to blur the line between jazz, pop and hip-hop and do it so that it doesn’t sound forced. When I was reading Hammond's press release and got to the part about his beat boxing, I groaned, but when I listened I was truly impressed at how he fits it in and makes it sound like it belongs. The songs on this CD are of the usual variety relationship-I want you, You Want Me-I’m confused, Please help me- type of songs. That’s OK, and what makes it OK is the music and grooves that keep you listening. The first track, “Let’s Get Alone” starts off with a groovy acoustic guitar riff and has a well placed rap-verse in the middle done up well by Kewku Sam Kofie. “It’s OK” is a solo track with just voice and guitar that gives the listener an insight to the live sound of Ben Hammond. “Touch” is a track that does not allow you to sit still and uses Hammond’s beat boxing and some beats and sounds that reminded me of Stevie Wonder. Ben Hammond seems to be on the edge of all the latest musical trends like circuit bending and beat boxing, yet it is all brought back into the traditional forms of jazz and pop and delivered with expertise. Go out and get this disk.

  • Eclectic and quirky
    author: Louise Peacock

    ...But I really like what this talented artist has produced here ... each song is different - one moment he's all jazz, then he's folky, then he's World - keeps you guessing in a good way. Great album - I had the pleasure of receiving an advance copy for My Songwriter show, and it was a real joy to listen to it .....

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