BEN WATERS

Ben Waters’ name has become synonymous with excellent musicianship and performance. Jools Holland, in the Mail on Sunday, (12/06/2011) described Ben as being one of his favourite ten pianists in history and asked him to perform at his wedding

He is proud to count many of the legends of boogie woogie and rock ‘n roll his colleagues and friends, having played alongside Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry; The Rolling Stones; Shakin’ Stevens; Procul Harum; Mick Hucknall, Ray Davies, Jools Holland, and many others.

Travelling the world for over 20 years, Ben’s reputation as an internationally acclaimed musician was learned the hard way – playing in every imaginable type of venue from the bottom of whisky vats to the Royal Albert Hall and the Royal Festival Hall where he and his band were selected by Ray Davies as one of his 12 favourite bands to perform at his Meltdown Festival.

Info:

Energetic boogie piano focussing on rock ‘n roll standards interlinked with boogies and heart rending songs straight from the Prohibition era as well as inspirational original material which is much in demand by other artists.
He is available either solo; with his trio (Ben on piano and vocals; Richard Hymas on bass guitar and vocals; Ady Milward on drums and vocals) or supplemented with some of the finest sax players, horn section, guest vocalists and percussion specialists in the country – the big band can swell to 12 or even more if required.
Ben has played for many prestigious events throughout the world, working for royalty, celebrities and top of the range corporate event organisations, amongst others:
- HRH Prince Charles Garden Party to Make a Difference
- Jools Holland’s Wedding
- Hugh Laurie’s 50th Birthday Party
- Countless corporate events across the globe
He now has an extensive discography. His first CD was recorded in one take at the age of 18 and was much acclaimed in the media and Press. His last recording released by Eagle Rock Records this year – “Boogie4Stu” - with all the Rolling Stones, PJ Harvey and Jools Holland (who loaned his studio) on board and in aid of the British Heart Foundation in memory of Ian Stewart, is selling well worldwide and topping many charts. Ben was privileged to meet His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh , Patron of the British Heart Foundation, at a dinner in St James’s Palace, where he was thanked for his efforts. The CD has charted as No 1 in the Rock ‘n Roll charts with Amazon and all over the world.
The CD was released in London on March 9th 2011 at an amazing show at The Ambassadors Theatre in the West End. The line up included Charlie Watts; Ronnie Wood; Mick Taylor, Bill Wyman and Mick Hucknall, Shakin’ Stevens and Jools Holland and was compered by the world famous author, Ian Rankin.

The original artwork on the CD was created by Sir Peter Blake, who donated £10,000 to the BHF from signed prints of the cover.

FESTIVAL APPEARANCES INCLUDE:

Cork Jazz Festival - Ireland
Holders House Season - Barbados
Holders House Season - Barbados
Holders House Season - Barbados
Soulard Mardi Gras – St Louis, USA
Molde Blues Festival – Norway
Zottegam Blues Festival – Belgium
Glastonbury Festival – UK
Cambridge Folk Festival – UK
Colne Blues Festival – UK
Trowbridge Festival – UK
Castlebar Blues Festival – Ireland
Tamworth Festival – Australia
Memphis Zydeco Festival – USA
Larmer Tree Festival – UK
Bergen Festival – Norway
The Queens Birthday – Holland
Chichester Real Ale and Jazz – UK
Henley Festival – UK
The Rhythm Riot – UK
Great Woods Festival – Canada
Farnham Blues Festival – UK
Small Nations Festival – Wales
Burnley Blues Festival – UK
Wendlestien New Orleans – Germany
Rotterdam Riverside Festival – Holland
London Jazz Festival – UK
Donau Insel Fest – Austria
Eddie Cochran Festival – UK
Tonder Festival – Denmark
Mettmann Blues Week - Germany
Birmingham Jazz Festival – UK