Page 33 - BiTS_01_JANUARY_2022

BEN LEVIN – IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR

By Lawrence Lebo

Cincinnati, Ohio pianist Ben Levin made his first guest

appearance at age 11 years old with his father’s band the
Heaters, and his first Cincinnati Blues Festival appearance at
age 15. Ben and his father guitarist Aron Levin have continued
to make music together … and Ben is now 22 years old! Not
something easily found these days. Most kids want to become
independent of their parents as fast as they can! But in this case the son has
embraced the father’s tastes in music, making it his own. This brings us to Ben’s latest

release titled Still Here.
Ben Levin Still Here is mostly co-written by

father and son, along with a few
well-chosen covers. The pair
were inspired by the vibe and
sound of Cincinnati’s historic

King Records artists, including
Big Jay McNeely, Eddy “Lockjaw”
Davis and The Ink Spots, to name
a few. Ben was brought up on
Boogie Woogie piano, the style

has cemented itself firmly in his
approach.

The original songs on Still Here
are reflective of the family
struggles during the global
pandemic when Aron became ill

with COVID-19. Track 2, the slow
blues lament title track recounts;
“I watched them take you away
in the dark, Said goodbye with a
heavy heart, Could not believe
the end was so near, Look at you

now – you’re Still Here”. Ben
tinkles, and father/guitarist Aron tastefully drops in some blues fills. The pair are musically
responsive and respective of each other.

I caught up with Ben Levin during his college finals! I asked him about his life and his latest release
titled Still Here. This is what he told me ………

LL: So, tell us about where you grew up and about your family, please.

BL: I grew up in Cincinnati, OH. I have one older brother, and my dad is a professor along with
being a professional musician. My mom is a former nurse and is now in the catering business.