Ben Bowen (musician)

See also: Ben Bowen (disambiguation)

Ben Bowen
Ben Bowen in studio, 2011
Background information
Born	(1976-06-05) 5 June 1976 (age 48)
Genres	children's music pop folk music
Occupations	musician songwriter
Years active	2001–present
Website	www.benbowen.ca

Ben Bowen (born 5 June 1976 in England) is a Canadian trumpet player and children's musician from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.[1][2] Bowen studied jazz trumpet at York University and Humber College. He is a session musician for various other bands and as of 2024 has been involved in over 40 studio albums.

Recent work

Breaking from his role as horn-player, in December 2011 he released a 5-song debut EP of traditional children's songs entitled The Bumblebee EP, which one reviewer called "wonderfully gentle and soothing."[3] Bowen sings and plays guitar on this recording, backed by his sister Anna Bowen on accordion and vocals, and his brother-in-law Ben on mandolin and vocals. It was recorded by singer-songwriter Nick Zubeck[4] at Cardinal Song studios in Guelph, and released on iTunes.

Accolades

In 2024 Bowen received a Canadian Folk Music Award nomination for Children's Album of the Year at the 19th Canadian Folk Music Awards.[5]

In June of 2024, he won a City of Hamilton Arts Award in the "Creator Awards" category.[6] ...on his birthday!

Discography

• The Bumblebee EP (2012)
• Let's Sing a Song, Vol. 1 (2017)
• Beautiful Day (2017)
• Let's Sing a Song, Vol. 2 (2017)
• O Watch the Stars (2018)
• Sleep Now – Lullabies (2019)
• Here Comes the Train (2023)

Session work

Since 2003 Bowen has worked on numerous albums as a session musician. He has played and recorded with a number of notable Canadian artists, including Lily Frost, Great Aunt Ida, Junetile, A Northern Chorus, Valery Gore, Nick Zubeck, Brian MacMillan, Bellewoods, and Old World Vulture.[7][8]

• Danny Medakovic − Jolley Cut (2014)[9]
• Old World Vulture − Trophy Lovers (2012)[10]
• Great Aunt Ida − Nuclearize Me (2012)[11]
• Valery Gore − Avalanche to Wandering Bear (2008); trumpet on "Scared", "Great Lakes and Sparrow"[12][13][14]
• A Northern Chorus − The Millions Too Many (2007); brass on "The Millions Too Many", "No Stations", "Canadian Shield and Ethic of the Pioneer"[15]

References

1. "Interview with Ben Bowen". Who Hub. Archived from the original on 5 April 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
2. "Ben Bowen". CBC Radio 3. Archived from the original on 13 July 2010.
3. "One-on-One with Ben Bowen". Michael Thomas. 19 January 2012. Archived from the original on 14 December 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
4. "Nick Zubeck". Archived from the original on 14 June 2013. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
5. Nika Petrosian, "Canadian Folk Music Awards Unveil 2024 Nominees". Exclaim!, October 18, 2023.
6. "City of Hamilton Arts Awards". Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
7. "Discography". Ben Bowen. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
8. "Ben Bowen". All about Jazz. Archived from the original on 6 July 2012.
9. "Dan Medakovic's New Album "Jolley Cut" Has Some Nice Gems". Greater Hamilton Musician. 17 October 2014. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
10. "index". oldworldvulture.ca. Archived from the original on 10 February 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
11. "Album Credits". greatauntida.ca/GAI-credits.htm. Archived from the original on 10 April 2013.
12. "Do Right Music webpage". dorightmusic.com. Archived from the original on 30 April 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
13. "Valery Gore". mp3.com webpage. Archived from the original on 1 November 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
14. Harper, Kate. "Valery Gore Starts An Avalanche". Chart Attack. Archived from the original on 3 October 2017.
15. "Updates Northern Chorus". Toronto Music Scene. Archived from the original on 11 June 2008.

External links

• Official website
• Official children's music website