'Benergy' New Solo LP From Big D and the Kids Table Bassist Ben Basile Announced; Stream The First Single
LA's Wiretap Records Announces Eclectic
New Imprint
Sleepwalk Sounds
First Release Is 'Benergy' New Solo LP From
Big D and the Kids Table
Bassist Ben Basile
Stream The First Single "Mountain Road"
For fans of Ernest Rangling, Victor Rice, Horace Silver,
New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble, The Skatalites.
Los Angeles, CA – Independent Record Label, Wiretap Records, has announced the launch an offshoot imprint label, Sleep Walk Sounds. The newly formed imprint, will specialize in releasing music in various genres from soul, roots reggae/rocksteady, jazz funk, americana, indie and more.
“For the past 10 years of running Wiretap Records, I’d constantly receive submissions from bands/artists of all types of genres. From soul, country, R&B, roots reggae and more. I love all sorts of music as we all do. While a lot of times, the music and artists were not the ideal for a Wiretap release, I still found it appealing to possibly create an imprint that was able to cater to those sounds that weren’t punk/hardcore, alternative/rock leaning.”-Rob Castellon, Owner Wiretap Records, Sleep Walk Sounds
The newly formed Sleep Walk Sounds, has announced it’s debut release due this spring, a solo record Benergy from Big D and The Kids Table bassist Ben Basile.
While Ben has performed and recorded with dozens of artists throughout his career, this is his first album consisting of his original compositions. In February of 2023, Ben enlisted the help of his best friend and bandmate Jon Degen to produce the new album. Recording took place in the spring and fall of 2023 and was completed just before the year’s end.
Ben believes that bassists have a unique perspective for composing and arranging. This “bottom-up” approach can be heard in the meaningful and simple arrangements throughout the new record. The instrumentation varies from song to song; no two tracks are alike! Musicians on the album include collaborators from both of Ben’s musical worlds: ska and jazz. The pun “Benergy” was coined by one of Ben’s students during a bass lesson. From its initial inception, Benergy was simply a collection of compositions; now it is an album that encapsulates the joy, rhythm, and spirit of the music that has helped shape Ben Basile as an artist.
“Benergy” is a pun that one of my bass students came up with. I was explaining to my student what it means to play “on top of the beat” which means playing just slightly early to push the feel of the bassline. “When I play ska punk, like with Big D and The Kids Table, it’s all about playing on top, playing with momentum and energy. Pushing the music the entire time.” Her response was: “Benergy?” with a smile. We shared a laugh and I wrote it down for later.
The debut single is a track by the name of “Mountain Road”, a burst of traditional ska/rocksteady goodness that’ll have you tapping your foot in no time.
Ben says, ""Mountain Road" was written to represent where I am now in life... It's literally the road I live on currently." The track is now streaming everywhere via Sleep Walk Sounds.
Stream "Mountain Road" here:
About Ben Basile:
Ben Basile’s passion for music was ignited in 7th grade when his sister gave him a stack of ska and punk rock CDs. This would lead to Ben studying music at Dutchess Community College in Poughkeepsie, New York, and continuing his music education at The State University of New York at New Paltz, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Jazz Studies in 2011.
Transitioning to full-time musician post-graduation, he embraced a diverse musical landscape before reconnecting with Ska in 2013. Ben had the opportunity to be the fill-in bass player for the NYC ska and reggae group Pilfers. This was Ben’s canon event that would launch his career; taking him from ska fan to ska musician! On that tour he connected with Boston’s Big D and The Kids Table has been with the band ever since. In addition, Ben also had the opportunity to record and tour with the New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble from 2014-2017.
Ben has performed across six continents, averaging 150 performances per year!
Ben’s travels have shown him the universal nature and importance of music as a means of communication. Despite his successes, Ben remains grounded in humility, expressing gratitude for the myriad of opportunities that have enriched his life.
