Ben Levin & Stella Heath - Waiting Just For You

Ben Levin & Stella Heath - Waiting Just For You

STREET DATE 10/6/23

Vizztone Records

Noted French journalist Patrick Dallongeville wrote of Ben Levin’s sophomore VizzTone album in 2020, “Ben Levin no longer only represents the next generation, he is the new boss.” He was very insightful, judging by all the musical ground the young

Cincinnati piano player has covered in the meantime.....

Ben has produced a prodigious stream of his own VizzTone albums including: Before Me (2019), Carryout Or Delivery (2020), Still Here - (2021), Take Your Time - (2022), and the Christmas single: Forgot Mrs Claus (2019).

Ben has always maintained a busy touring schedule, and has taken it upon himself to produce and present shows featuring other artists.In the winter of 2021, Ben 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. In May 2022, Ben put on his first Blues Revue, featuring Chicago blues legend Lil’ Ed, and Kentucky blues legend Tee Dee Young. Later that summer, Ben returned overseas to play the prestigious Swing Wesplaar festival in Belgium, along with Joe Bonamassa's Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea Cruise in the Mediterranean.

Recently Ben recorded an album and toured with Lil' Jimmy Reed, joined the Nick Moss Band for a tour, and performed on many prestigious stages and festivals around the globe. Along the way he took time to collect his Bachelor’s Degree in History from Cincinnati University.

Ben's traditional blues style has always been well-laced with classic R&B and Rock and Roll, but he recently broadened his recorded musical reach even further with a gorgeous blues/jazz duo performance with California-based vocalist Stella Heath.

Ben and Stella met in March 2020, and while both artists were stuck at home during the early stages of the pandemic, they were inspired to collaborate and work on classic R&B duets from the 1950s. They recorded four duets virtually and the last one, “I’m Waiting Just For You”, (a cover from a Lucky Millinder big band recording on the Cincinnati-based label King Records) was such a hit with Ben and Stella’s fans online that they decided to plan a show and a recording session.

In April 2023, Ben and Stella finally had the opportunity to work together in person and played one sold out show in Cincinnati and spent one day in the studio. They hired legendary Cincinnati jazz musicians Art Gore on drums (who has worked with artists such as George Benson, Dr. Lonnie Smith, and Lonnie Liston Smith) and Jim Anderson on bass (who has worked with artists such as Art Blakey, Ernestine Anderson, Hank Crawford).

The session produced the Digital EP, “Waiting Just For You”, with the first track being the same tune the pair recorded virtually two years prior. They also recorded a swinging Joe Liggins/Candy Rivers duet “One Sweet Letter” and two originals. “Too Good For Me” was originally written and recorded by Ben for his 2020 album “Carryout Or Delivery”, which he re-arranged into a duet to sing with Stella. “To Know What Love Feels Like Again” is the last original which Ben co-wrote with a friend, based in the classic tradition of torch songs.

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 and create a beautiful, classic sound.

For more information:

Contact: brat@bratgirlmedia.com / richard@vizztone.com