BEN CLIFTON

OVERLOOK

Ben Clifton Music

Ben Clifton is a native of Pittsburgh, PA where he fell in love with jazz and composing. He also enjoyed church music.  Now based in Houston, Texas, He’s a popular working, multi-instrumentalist and composer.

“Overlook” is Clifton’s first full length debur album as a bandleader.  The album title reflects Schenley Park, a beloved place back in Pittsburgh.  It was where Clifton frequented and spent time as a teenager. In the same breath, the title reflects how his music represents an “Overlook” of both his personal life experiences and various musical collaborations through the years. Those collaborations include both the study and performance of music.

With a style that is mostly contemporary, Clifton’s opening track, “Convocation” celebrates his life experience. He composed this tune to represent transitioning from boyhood to manhood. The drums of Gavin Moolchan kick off the tune forcefully, while the piano of Ben Clifton introduces us to the melody and mood of the song. He plays both a Fender Rhodes piano solo on this tune, and also the grand piano. Clifton also plays around with synthesizers before resolving back to the opening melody. This is a very smooth jazz arrangement.

“Shadows” is the only song on his album that features a vocalist. Clifton changes the genre, arranging this tune more ‘pop’ music than jazz.  Nicoya Polar has a sweet soprano voice.  She interjects some improvisation during Ben’s improvised piano section that is interesting, almost like she has string parts dancing in her head.

His song called “No Access to Hollywood” is more like an introduction than a song.  Clifton and Kelly Doyle collaborated on the minimalist tune, improvising their instruments, (Kelly’s electric guitar and Ben’s keyboard) to create a lovely ambiance. This one-minute song leads them into a composition Clifton calls “Serenity.”  It sounds like that too.  This song represents his mood and personal healing after the hardship of losing his father. I enjoy the input from Jalen Baker on vibraphone. Ben Clifton’s stellar solo on acoustic piano is punctuated and supported by the bass of Wesselkamper.  The title tune is quite melodic and once again Clifton’s music leans towards easy-listening mixed with pop sensibilities.  Wesselkamper’s inspired bass solo moves the arrangement closer to a jazz production.

This is an album that has an overall, easy-listening, peaceful personae. It’s the kind of music I would love to hear during one of my massage sessions.

His band: Ben Clifton, piano/composer/Hammond Organ/keyboard; Chad Wesselkamper, acoustic Bass; Nicco Martinez, composer/electric bass; Gavin Moolchan & Mark Simmons Jr., drums; Johnathan Huleet, co-writer/drums; Charlie Perez, percussion; Nicoya Polar, vocals/co-writer; Kelly Doyle, electric guitar/co-writer; John Calderon, electric guitar; Cliff Gordon, tenor saxophone; Jalen Baker, vibraphone; Emily Zelaya & Mario Zelaya, violins; Shayna Powers, viola; Aimee Norris, cello; Arthur Moyler, co-writer/string arranger.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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