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About:
Ben Woolman is hailed as one of the Midwest's leading finger-style guitarists. His music can be heard around the world on cable, Internet, and terrestrial radio outlets in over 50 countries, spanning 6 continents, and among programming for Minnesota and National Public Radio. He has been a guest columnist for Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine and Guitar Teacher Magazine, contributed music to various film soundtracks, and has 10 recordings, solo and compilations, credited to date. Mr. Woolman holds a BFA in Guitar Performance, with honors, from the University of Wisconsin/Wisconsin Conservatory of Music Cooperative Guitar Program, Milwaukee, WI.
For over fifteen years, Ben has performed across the US in theaters, folk festivals, coffeehouses, colleges, house concerts, weddings, corporate functions, and formal recitals. Highlights include sharing the stage with some of the artists who continue to inspire him including: Billy McLaughlin, Pat Donohue, Dan Schwartz, Dean Magraw, Tim Sparks, Phil Heywood, and Claudia Schmidt.
His engaging, high energy, performances cover a diverse musical terrain including: American blues, folk, Latin, Jazz, Celtic, Classical, and African music as well as his own brand of catchy, introspective compositions. Ben is often described as having a melodic gift with composition that fuses elements of both "rootsy" and contemporary finger-style playing with a pop songwriter's crafty sensibility. He effortlessly moves from genre to genre keeping his audiences guessing and engaged. The influence of his early folk days is very prominent in his stage presence as he balances his virtuosic technique and intensity with humor and story telling which compliment the music. "Very inspiring!" is a common refrain one often hears after a Ben Woolman concert.
Discography:
Many Moods
Floating Feather Music, 2010
New Roots Duo: Roots Run Deep
Peacefire Productions, 2008
Tis The Season: Classical Guitar
Compass Productions, 2004
Wisdom / Delusion
Floating Feather Music, 2003
Guitar Fingerstyle 2: A Narada Collection
Narada Productions, 2001
Lifescapes: Solo Guitar
Compass Productions, 2000
American Fingerstyle Guitar Circa 1999
Peacefire Productions, 1999
Stratovox
Floating Feather Music, 1997
Guitar Fingerstyle: A Narada Collection
Narada Media, 1996
Lost In Density
Floating Feather Music, 1995
Photo courtesy of Rebecca Pavlenko
Photo courtesy of Rebecca Pavlenko
Photo courtesy of Rebecca Pavlenko
Photo courtesy of Mark Ellis