Ben Rice & RB Stone - Out Of The Box

Size: 89,2 MB
Time: 38:57
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2020
Styles: Blues Rock
Art: Full

01. Hot Rod Mama (2:35)
02. Easy, Easy Rollin' Down The Road (3:57)
03. Hey Politician (3:32)
04. Hoodoo Workin' Overtime (3:30)
05. Swamp East Boogie (4:00)
06. Jesus Needs A Gig (4:18)
07. Meet Your Maker (3:22)
08. Bad Blood On Mean Whiskey (2:45)
09. Crushin' On The Bartender (3:00)
10. Train Of Time (3:24)
11. Lobo Jam (4:29)

Out of the Box, a cigar box guitar project by Ben Rice and RB Stone caught my attention in a magnificent way. Rice and Stone have written eleven original blues tracks which they perform using an assortment of cigar box guitars comprised of 6 and 4 string Washboards, Swampeast Cigar Box, and a Lobo Cigar Box. Backing Rice and Stone on this self-produced project is drummer Dave Melyan, bassist Joseph Barton and Jimi Bott on tambourine. Bott, the award-winning blues drummer who has played with the Fabulous Thunderbirds, and The Proven Ones, also recorded and mixed the record.

The guys bust out in full rockabilly style on “Hot Rod Mama”, both tearing it up on 6-string Washboards. The slide sounds terrific, and their vocals are dynamic. Melvan’s back-beat and Rice’s mesmerizing riff instills a relaxed North Mississippi vibe to “Easy Rollin’ Down the Road”. Stone breaks out his harmonica on the delightfully cool retro track “Hoodoo Workin’ Overtime”. There’s a bit of a Howlin’ Wolf essence about this one that I adore. “Swamp East Boogie” puts a smile on my face with every listen as Stone lets loose on his SwampEast CBG. The Southeast Missouri area they sing about is very familiar to me. “Bad Blood on Mean Whiskey” has a menacing ambiance and a badass attitude that is irresistible.

The grand finale of this splendid album is a song called “Lobo Jam”. This four and a half minute instrumental jam consists of an edgy driving rhythm and lots of smoking slide guitar. I absolutely love it. This album is a must for blues and cigar box guitar fans. ~Phillip Smith

Out Of The Box MP3
Out Of The Box FLAC

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Ben Rice - Wish The World Away

Size: 138,5 MB
Time: 59:01
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2018
Styles: Electric/Acoustic Blues
Art: Front

01. Dirt Road Home (3:34)
02. Peace Will Overcome (4:10)
03. Retreat (4:21)
04. Mojo Hand (4:29)
05. Wish The World Away (4:12)
06. The One That Got Away (3:42)
07. Hard Times (5:07)
08. If You Ever Change Your Mind (3:10)
09. Higherground (5:43)
10. Run Around (6:23)
11. Oh Lord (5:03)
12. Get There (3:32)
13. Don't Worry Mama (5:28)

Based out of Portland, Ore., Ben Rice continues his steady climb to the heights of the blues world with this tasty collection, which includes 12 blues and roots infused originals and one cover – produced with the assistance of some of the best talent on the West Coast.

Even though Rice is barely into his 30s, he’s been making a major impression for the better part of the past decade as both a singer/songwriter and guitarist, fronting his own band and touring the globe frequently in support of two powerhouses – two-time Blues Music Association bass player of the year Lisa Mann and BMA female vocalist of the year nominee Karen Lovely.

Ben enjoys a strong roots heritage, combining electric and Delta blues with soul, funk, rockabilly and jazz in the mix here. Early influences included Al Green, Alice Cooper, Teddy Pendergrass and Marshall Tucker, but quickly expanded to include by B.B. King, Big Bill Broonzy, Skip James and Mississippi Fred McDowell among others.

A student of both jazz guitar and classical music at the University Of Oregon, his unique playing style also incorporates techniques he developed while playing Celtic folk and Mexican mariachi in bands during his college years. He regularly switches among electric, cigar-box and resonator guitars today.

Rice burst onto the national scene in 2014, competing in the International Blues Challenge and leaving Memphis with the Albert King Award, which honors the best guitarist in the competition. He’s been building a global following ever since.

Recorded and mixed at Portland’s Roseleaf Studios under the direction of all-star drummer Jimi Bott, Wish The World Away is Ben’s seventh CD. He handles all vocal and guitar duties with a lineup that includes Bott handling percussion on five tracks and Dave Melyan on another. Harmonica master Mitch Kashmar appears on four cuts with Dave Fleschner contributing keyboards and Julio Appling bass on a pair each. Haley Johnsen and Natasia GreyCloud provide vocals on one cut each, and Paul Brainard makes a single appearance on pedal steel.

The opener, “The Dirt Road Home,” finds Rice on resonator accompanied only by Bott on drums. A Delta blues in its purest form, it sings praise for living out in the country where cellphones go dead. Ben’s a melismic vocalist in addition to being an exceptional picker, and this tune puts both on crystal clear display. Appling and Fleshner join the action for “Peace Will Overcome,” an optimistic number in these troubled times, with Rice delivering sweet runs on slide.

Up next, “Mojo Hand” is an uptempo Hill Country pleaser aided by Kashmar’s lilting harp runs and swinging shuffle patterns from Melyan in his only appearance. The title tune ballad “Wish The World Away” – about unhappy lovebirds yearning for a new start — features Rice in duet with GreyCloud, a former contestant on The Voice who’s now based in Nashville.

Belying his youth, Ben incorporates a ‘40s feel for “The One That Got Away,” which swings from the jump that describes love both won and lost. Next up, the ballad “Hard Times” comes across with a Memphis soul feel fueled by Fleschner on Hammond B3 organ and gives Rice plenty of space to put his vocal chops on display while “If You Ever Change Your Mind” features plenty of red-hot guitar licks delivered with pre-War sensibilities.

An interesting reinvention of Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground” follows before “Run Around” returns the sound to a propulsive first-generation country blues root. “Oh Lord” keeps the feel going with Rice weaving fingerpicking with Kashmar’s harp. The two closing numbers — “Get There” and “Don’t Worry Mama” – state Ben’s musical vision for the future and assure his mother that, no matter what happens, he’ll always remain at her side.

Wish The World Away isn’t your grandfather’s blues. But if you like great guitar work and new tunes that are both fresh and original with a deeply rooted traditional feel, this one’s definitely for you. Ben Rice is a young man whose star is starting to soar. ~by Marty Gunther

Wish The World Away

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Ben Rice Trio - Live At The Purple Fox Loft

Size: 179,7 MB
Time: 77:02
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Blues Rock, Delta Blues
Art: Front

01. Shake A Hand (Live) ( 2:57)
02. Ida Mae (Live) ( 5:10)
03. Can't Be Satisfied (Introduction) (Live) ( 1:11)
04. Can't Be Satisfied (Live) ( 6:11)
05. Turn My Back On You (Introduction) (Live) ( 0:45)
06. Turn My Back On You (Live) ( 4:44)
07. Fishing (Introduction) (Live) ( 0:44)
08. Fishing (Live) ( 5:47)
09. I Saw The Devil (Introduction) (Live) ( 0:32)
10. I Saw The Devil (Live) (11:54)
11. Somewhere Over The Rainbow (Live) ( 3:03)
12. Key To The Highway (Live) ( 7:36)
13. In The Doghouse (Live) ( 3:11)
14. You're Gonna Go Away (Live) ( 7:10)
15. Fallen Angel (Introduction) (Live) ( 0:36)
16. Fallen Angel (Live) ( 5:08)
17. I Got Loaded (Introduction) (Live) ( 0:39)
18. I Got Loaded (Live) ( 9:41)

Ben Rice has been leaving huge impressions on audiences around the Northwest and winning awards for his vocals and guitar playing for the last seven years. In 2014 at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis Tennessee he left the audience speechless with a raw emotional delivery of his version of “Key To The Highway.” His second consecutive trip to the International Blues Challenge finals in 2015, with Lucy Hammond. He delivered an elegant performance that highlighted his voice, writing, and guitar playing. After that performance he was given the St. Blues Guitarist award for best guitarist in the solo/duo competition at the 2015 International Blues Challenge.

His debut on the international stage in 2014, was a landmark step forward in his career from being a regional act playing primarily around the NW to a national and international touring artist. Captivating audiences and presenting himself as someone who has a lot of depth in the various soundscapes of American music. Ben is gaining fans all over the world who love his playing, singing, songs, and stage performance.
His original music blends Soul, Delta-Blues, Rockabilly, Jazz, and Funk into a Roots Stew. Influenced heavily by his parents record collection from Al Green to Alice Cooper, Teddy Pendergrass to Marshall Tucker. Ben at a young age began investigating into Blues and it’s history. Starting with B.B. King and going through the various regions and time periods he is inspired and influenced by historical figures like Muddy Waters, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Robert Johnson, Big Bill Broonzy, and Skip James to name a few. Ben spent his college years studying Jazz Guitar at the University of Oregon as well as classical music. Playing in the Celtic Folk ensemble and Mariachi group on campus. He has been well versed in a lot of musical styles that all contribute to the unique sound of his originals.
As a performer Ben looks to the greats for inspiration. Always striving to connect with the audience through his music and stories. He also has an interesting arsenal of guitars playing resophonic guitars and homemade cigar box guitars. More important than the visual appeal Ben has an amazing way of making these guitars sound, often bringing audiences to tears with his slide playing.
Ben Rice has been a growing talent in the NW, winning awards for his singing, guitar work, writing, and performing. He is stepping into the national and international scene. Using his vast influences of American music to fuel his music and performance.

Live At The Purple Fox Loft

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