Vi An is an improvisational Gu Zheng virtuoso. Vi An’s ‘Embark‘ marks the first album to feature tracks composed and produced by Ben Johnson: Track 9 ‘Yangucho’, and Track 10 ‘Goddess And Messenger’.
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Embark (Vi An, 2007)
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Tag Archives: Alberta
Dinner in Polidroso (Rembetika Hipsters, 2004)
The Rembetika Hipsters‘ second album, marking the song-writing debut of Ben Johnson with the instrumental track ‘Mersini’. Ben is also featured on tabla on ‘Oso Varoun ta Sidera’, – a bold choice for a Cretan folk tune – and on drum kit in 7/8 time on ‘Evil Eye’.
Xpandora & the Handsome Strangers (2003)
Multi-disciplinary artist Xstine Cook released this EP featuring her original songs, Mark Sadlier-Brown on guitar, Mike McCafferty on bass, and Ben Johnson on drums. Performance highlights included whip-cracking solos, musical saw performance, and an axe solo.
Belladonna (Plaid Tongued Devils, 2002)
A thick soup of pop, rock and ska made with the salty base of gypsy and klezmer music with dashes of spanish and middle eastern influences, Belladonna is the Plaid-Tongued Devils‘ fourth release.
Features Ben Johnson performing a santoor intro to the classic ‘Misirlou’, and on tabla alongside Meghana Bhat’s lovely sitar on ‘Kama Sutra’.
Architects of Narghilé (Rembetika Hipsters, 2001)
The debut album of the Rembetika Hipsters. Percussion tracks by Ben Johnson include djembé (megalo toumbeleki), darbukka (toumbeleki), riq and deffe (frame drum). Continue reading