Known for his thrilling cello playing, new techniques, a unique mix of folk, bluegrass, jazz and R&B, Ben Sollee possesses a smoky vocal style and a knack for intricate arrangements.
Songwriter, composer, storyteller, Sollee has a reputation for a 360º approach to his art. The Kentucky native educates as much as he entertains through his innovative style as a cellist; conveying genre-bending songwriting through electrifying performances and non-traditional album presentation.
Like his contemporaries Chris Thile and Abigail Washburn, Sollee’s music is difficult to pin down. Following a performance at the Lincoln Center’s American Songbook series, the New York Times remarked how Sollee’s “…meticulous, fluent arrangements continually morphed from one thing to another. Appalachian mountain music gave way to the blues, and one song was appended with a fragment from a Bach cello suite, beautifully played.” It’s Ben’s quality of narrative and presence on stage that unifies his musical influences.
His most recent music, “Steeples Pt. 2” is the second of three parts in an album release of the same name. Portioning Steeples in this way, Ben is able to break the traditional album cycle and deliver a diverse array of content to his fans. Within the past year, Ben has complemented the songs of Steeples Pt. 1 and 2 with The Vanishing Point virtual reality app, film scores like Maidentrip, a technology infused production of Harold & the Purple Crayon, an interactive sculptural installation called Livestream, and much more. Through the innovative facets of his artistic portfolio he teaches his audience that the modern artist has no boundaries.
