I draw alot of influence from Jazz and Pop music of the last century. Some stuff I have been into recently- the White tornado Outbreak, Rick James, Star Turtle ( Harry Conick Jr.) Pandora Online Radio, Joao Gilberto Matt Skinner, Ancient Mesopotamian history, and Derick Trucks.
Lasting influences; Satchamo, Miles, Herbie, Jaco, Metheny, Poncho Sanchez, James Brown, P-funk, James Jamerson, Sly, Grahm, Marcus Miller, Victor Wooten and family, Oteil & Kufi Burbridge, to name just a few.
Ben Soltau is a bass player, singer and songwriter living in Iowa city, writing and performing in many styles and for different groups. You can usually catch him down at the Yacht Club and other great venues checking out the live music sceen. Other then that he likes to hang out at the local "jams", a Uniphonics show or two, barista'n it up at the MT J H, or chilling watching the History channel or some great sci-fi series. Some of his current projects include "We Funk" a 15 + piece multi-generation group dedicated to the preservation of the music of Parliament-Funkadelic containing members of several Iowa City bands. You can see him with B.J. Jaggers, James Edel, the White Tornado and Ed Bornstien in the Blues Band "James Jaggers and the Wise Fools". Right now he is gearing up to hit the studio with a new project to record original music so be looking for that to break out in the late spring semester and summer. Ben likes to be involved in the local scene as much as he can, so hosting the Wednesday night Jam at the Iowa City Yacht Club is a great way to meet and play with him.
sgt benny, there is so much i want to express to you. i feel as though my feelings would be best conveyed through a monologue: picard dance yep, thats how i feel.
aaaaaand here's the rap i mentioned: picard rap q-q-q-q-q-quite hyppppnoticcccc-c-c
