Ben Graves

Ben Graves is an alumnus of the Berklee College of Music, where he was awarded scholarships for vocals and saxophone, as well as being featured on the school’s promotional CD. He holds a B.A. from Wesleyan University and an M.F.A. in music from Washington State University.
But can he rock? The answer: yeah, sort of.
The Ben Graves trio seems more interested in grooves, jazz and inspired chord changes than in your basic “learn three chords and let’s rock” approach. References to Dave Matthews are obvious, but Graves is more stripped-down and acoustic. The title track is a good example – a brushed-stroke snare pattern and accordion propel Graves’ snapshot of different cultures and the characteristics each possess. “Princess Grace,” with its funky, fretless bass groove, is an ode to the late, great, actress. “Direction” sounds like a less overwrought and more intelligent Hootie and the Blowfish.
“Sometimes” features Graves’ crisp guitar picking. He also handles dobro, saxophone, and harmonica, and his melodies are consistently fresh and inventive. Crazy Italians proves that all those years in school paid off. Which should make his parents proud and please anyone else who enjoys intelligent pop music.
- Neil Fagan

- Performing Songwriter Magazine

You’ve heard of sitcoms: this is sit-pop. Like Ben Folds and Squeeze’s Glenn Tilbrook, singer-guitarist Ben Graves delivers incisive observations on the everyday in a honeyed voice. Lyrically Graves interacts with Oscar Wilde, ruminates on “girls,” and has run-ins with a “boss man.” Fretless bassist Mark Brunner and percussionist Dan Berkman lay down an ersatz Soul Coughing groove, while Graves syncopated plucked chords in a style similar to Dave Matthews’. The first two songs, “Princess Grace” and Direction,” have the happy-go-lucky feeling of Matthews’ Under the Table and Dreaming. The sparse opening of “Sometimes,” featuring just Graves’ vocal and fingerpicked guitar, momentarily moves into James Taylor territory as Graves waxes saccharine with lines like “Why is the sky so blue / For everyone else but you?” With this mix of easy grooves and smooth roots-rock sensibility, it’s easy to picture Ben Graves trio playing in supper clubs and neighborhood cafes alike.

- Howard Myint

- SF Bay Guardian

"...Graves seems to be on the slow and steady road to success... sharing the stage with notables and winning the prizes that are stepping stones to the kind of recognition he deserves. (His songs)...conjure up the feel of a long walk with a comfortable lover; the scenery changes, but the feeling is the same."

--Katherine Brown,
- SF Weekly

"...exuberant pop, ... tightly crafted songs that (lend) themselves well to improvisation in a live setting."

--Russell Hall - Performing Songwriter Magazine