Stella Heath with Ben Levin

Stella Heath with Ben Levin at Rancho Nicasio
* Sunday, January 28, 6:00 pm

Singer Stella Heath is an old soul—or, as people like to tell her, “I’m not of my time.” By age 8, she was obsessed with classical singing and piano, preferring her mother’s collection of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong recordings to the latest radio hits.

As the lead vocalist in a handful of local bands – Bandjango Collectif, Stella & the Starlights, the Stella & Ian Duo – she loves to interpret Swing-era jazz standards, along with French gypsy and New Orleans favorites.

Only 23 years old, Ben Levin is already making his mark as a blues pianist, vocalist, and songwriter. Ben has been nominated for a Blues Music Award and two Blues Blast Magazine Awards. Based in Cincinnati, OH, Ben has been playing 100 shows a year since he was 15 years old, embracing the authentic sound of his heroes such as Professor Longhair, Pinetop Perkins, Otis Spann, and Ray Charles.

According to Bill Wilson from Reflections in Blue, “Ben Levin is GOOD…Learning at the feet of established masters and from the greatest recordings of all time; he has a deep love for the instrument and for the music.”

Ben’s fascination for blues piano began when he snuck a peek at his father watching the Ray Charles biopic Ray at age 6. Piano lessons with world-renowned Cincinnati-based blues/boogie pianist Ricky Nye led Ben into a passion that has not let up since.

Ben’s first festival appearance was for his local Cincy Blues Fest at age 13; by age 15 he was the full-time piano player in his father’s band weekend band The Heaters.