Ben Howard & Trousse-Chemise Pinot Noir

Ben Howard was born in West London in 1987. His family moved to Totnes, Devon when he was eight. His parents, musicians themselves, surrounded him with music as he grew up and exposed him to singer-songwriters of the 1960s and 1970s like Joni Mitchel and Simon and Garfunkel. Two of his biggest musical influences were John Martyn and Nick Drake.

Ben began writing his own songs when he was around ten, using the guitar as his composing vehicle. He attended Torquay Boys’ Grammar School and King Edward VI Community College then went on to study journalism at the University of Falmouth. But six months shy of getting his degree, he decided to make music his full-time career focusing on the folk-style genre made popular by Nick Drake. His guitar style is a blend of fingerpicking, standard tapping, and lap-tapping. His lyrics are full of imagery, some of which is rather dark. He released two EPs before signing with Island Records. His debut CD, Every Kingdom, went gold in the U.K. and is gradually gaining traction in the U.S. due to a recent tour.

In 2013, he won BRIT awards for Best British Breakthrough Act and Best British Solo Male Artist. His voice and guitar have a haunting quality to it that I hope you like. Enjoy!

The Fear: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnxCxHLAqn8

Depth over Distance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phktiVZqUbQ

Old Pine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzzCthKw_C0

Soldiers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWhm-H7M8Us

Live Concert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58xfJLrRr4U

Eurosonic Concert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GW2kUiQh9Kk

I’m pairing Ben with the 2012 Trousse-Chemise Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley in Oregon. Oregon, and particularly the Willamette Valley region, produces some of my favorite Pinot Noirs. This one is bright cherry red with a nose of red raspberries and cherries. The palate follows the nose with rich fruit and a fresh vibrant finish. It’s a nice wine to enjoy with a good book while listening to the music of Ben Howard.

Cheers!

Stanley Jordan & Donnhoff Krotenphul Riesling Kabinett

Tonight I’m featuring a fellow ex-Chicagoan, the incredible Stanley Jordan. Jordan burst onto the music scene in 1985 as one of the pioneers of a relatively new guitar style—tapping. He began his music studies at the age of six, studying the piano, which he still plays like a virtuoso. At the age of eleven, he shifted his focus to the guitar and in 1981 earned a BA in music from Princeton University, studying theory and computer music.

As you’ll see, he has a unique style of playing, tapping the melody with his left hand while chording with his right. It allows him to do something I’ve never seen others try, that is, play two guitars at once or the guitar and piano simultaneously. His unique approach starts with a Arpege model guitar made by Vigier Guitars. It has a flat fingerboard allowing it to have a very low action (0.5/0.7mm) that facilitates his tapping technique. The second part is his tuning. He plays the guitar in an all-fourths tuning, EADGCF from bass to treble, which he says simplifies the fretboard and makes it logical.

In addition to playing, he has developed music software and published papers on the topic in APL Quote-Quad and the IBM Systems Journal. And if that doesn’t make him unique beyond being a performing/recording musician, he also has a Master’s degree in music therapy from Arizona State University.

If you’ve never heard him, I think you’ll like him.

Stairway to heaven: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeooHiX4oH0

Lady in my life: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EfYLovsLFY

What’s goin on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_EZgP53tuo

Letterman performance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3gHtPLXQOI

Return expedition: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4aJ8J23nJ8

Eleanor Rigby: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKOatya2wqc

Live at the Iridium: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_hzWGp009U

The blues: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgZ_z_8GvIE

Jumpin Jack: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ltjua4yKsc0

Autumn leaves: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfH-0EBlfYg

Lady still got the blues: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmYBXsV5uto

All blues: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a-aq1UMcQw

Cousin Mary: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kuxng5Z8r8c

One of my favorite summer wines is a Riesling and the 2011 Donnhoff Krotenphul Riesling Kabinett ($20.00) is a great example.  Light straw colored, its aroma has notes of peaches and honeysuckle. The taste is full of juicy white peaches, lemons, and honey. It’s a light, crisp wine and perfect for summer. Try it with Stanley Jordan’s music. You’ll like it.

Cheers!