The Appeal of Ben Hauptmann’s New Album Lekker
The highly anticipated new album by award-winning guitarist Ben Hauptmann is about to challenge expectations of how improvised music can be created and documented.
Lekker is the follow-up to his 2012’s debut self-titled album which featured a multitude of twelve musicians and eight days in the studio. In contrast, Lekker, which has been two years in the making, uses a combination of programing, live instrumentation and sampling to create a studio production recording.
Mixed in New York (Room 307) by producer Lee Groves, who is most renowned for his work on Mark Stent projects for the likes of Gold Frapp, Depeche Mode & Gwen Stefani, Lee brought an expert touch when offering new and at times explosive approaches to presenting each track. The result is retro yet fresh, decidedly hip music.
Ben, who is amongst the most in-demand jazz guitarists in the country, has won the prestigious Freedman Jazz Fellowship and placed second in the National Jazz Awards. He cites finding the You Rock Guitar midi-controller as providing the inspiration behind creating Lekker.
He said “As I have limited piano playing ability and most midi controllers a geared toward pianists, I was very happy to find the You Rock Guitar. I created twelve tracks using midi instrumentation and programming and got the arrangements to a point I was happy with, and then booked a few days in the studio”.
It was at that point Ben called in the assistance of some of the most respected names in Australian jazz to complete the next stage. “My brother James played all the programmed drum parts live and added some extra percussion. I also added Brendan Clarke on acoustic bass, Arne Hanna on electric guitar, Dan Junor on Ewi (an electronic saxophone) and myself on electric guitar” said Hauptmann.
The feature track Delhi includes a Theremin sound for the lead line, which he wanted to double with a vocal line so called on friend Katie Noonan to lay down the part. Ben said of Katie “I am lucky enough to make music with Katie on a regular basis but this was the first time she has sung on something I have written”.
Ben Hauptmann launches Lekker at FBi Social Club on Saturday April 26. Presented by SIMA and Yum Yum Tree Records with support acts by post-rock instrumental maestros Danaides and words from “Sydney’s sexiest man voice” MC Luke Escombe. Lekker is out on Yum Yum Tree Records. To stream or download materials follow this link: www.benjaminhauptmann.bandcamp.com/
Date: Saturday 26 April (8pm)
Venue: FBi Social Club, Kings Cross Hotel, William St, Kings Cross
Tickets & Bookings: $10 and available on https://fbiradio.com/event-category/fbi-social/ or www.sima.org.au
About Ben Hauptmann
Ben Hauptmann is nationally recognized jazz guitarist. Winner of the 2010 Freedman Jazz Fellowship and 2nd place winner in the National Jazz Awards at the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz 2007.
Ben studied music at the A.N.U. Canberra School of Music (1998 – 2002) from which he received a B.Mus. with 1st class honours in Jazz performance and the University Medal.
Ben has since shared the stage with a diverse range of artists including Mavis Staples, Joss Stone, Katie Noonan, Gurrumul, Lior, Bluejuice, Micheline Van Hautem, Meow Meow, Paul Dempsy, Emmanuel Jal, James Morrison and Tal Wilkenfeld.
Internationally he has performed in London, Paris, Amsterdam, Istanbul, New York, Austin, Yogyakarta, Pekenbaru, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Wanaka, Rotorua as well as many major Australian music festivals including The Big Day Out, Wangaratta Festival of Jazz, Pyramid Rock Festival, Homebake, Woodford Folk Festival, Splendor In The Grass, Port Fairy Folk Festival and Apollo Bay Music Festival.
Ben writes the ‘Lead Work’ column for The Australian Guitar Magazine and teaches guitar at the Jazz Music Institute in Brisbane. Ben has contributed to over twenty recordings including the 2009 ARIA winning ‘secrets and lies’ by Bertie Blackman, he has released two albums under his own name and co-produced The Alcohotlicks recent offering – ‘Danaides‘.
MORE INFORMATION: https://benhauptmann.com/