Ben Harper - Wide Open Light (Chrysalis 
Records)
Release Date: Out Now
You can always (and I do mean always) rely on Ben Harper to bring you heartfelt, emotive and superb songwriting and new album 'Wide Open Light' is no exception. This stripped back collection opens with 'Heart and Crown' which might sound like the name of an English pub but the melody and deft guitar playing comes straight from the foothills of the Appalachian mountains. 'Giving Ghosts' grabs an empty whisky bottle and slides it up the neck of the guitar with Harper's distinctive vocal following the melody up and down the strings. On 'Masterpiece', the twilight vibes are so soft and gentle that you feel like Harper is putting you to bed personally and tucking you in to the comfiest of beds.
There's a more strained tone to the vocals on '8 minutes' with an almost gospel vibe before 'Yard Sale' takes a lazy Sunday afternoon and adds the warm melody you want to come wafting in on the breeze. 'Trying Not To Fall In Love With You' rattles in on the piano with a sense of the dramatic playing like a storm on the ivories and you can hear the frustration in Harper's voice on every line. Album title track 'Wide Open Light' is classic Harper with wistful vocals and a gently picked guitar in perfect and sublime balance. The lilting, hay-bale ride purity of 'One More Change' is good for the soul while 'Growing Growing Gone' feels like Harper pouring his soul out, one shot at a time, while he fidgets and noodles distractedly on a trusty old six string.
Penultimate song 'Love After Love' is the sweet smell of a favourite blanket that you can wrap yourself in after a long, tough day before we finish the album on 'Thank You Pat Brayer', an instrumental and beautiful ode to someone out among the stars on a still, clear night. I could honestly listen to Ben Harper play guitar all day and night with the occasional vocal interjection when the music doesn't quite say enough. An excellent addition to the Harper cannon.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/benharper
Live Dates:
Fri. Jun. 30 - Paris, France - L’OlympiaSat. Jul. 1 - Weimar, Germany - Seebühne Weimar c/o WeimarhalleMon. Jul. 3 - Paris, France - L'OlympiaTue. Jul. 4 - Paris, France - L'OlympiaWed. Jul. 5 - Paris, France - L'OlympiaFri. July 7 - Lugano, Switzerland - Lugano Estival JazzSat. Jul. 8 - Enghien, Belgium - LaSemoSun. Jul. 9 - Saint-Malô-du-Bois, France - Festival de Poupet *with Fatoumata Diawara, Colours In The StreetTue. Jul. 11 - Milan, Italy - Circolo Magnolia *with John ButlerWed. Jul. 12 - Verona, Italy - Castello ScaligeroThu. Jul. 13 - Perugia, Italy - Arena Santa GiulianaSat. Jul. 15 - Tarvisio, Italy - Lago di Fusine SuperioreSun. Jul. 16 - La Spezia, Italy - Piazza Giacomo MatteottiTue. Jul. 18 - Narbonne, France - Festival Jazz à l'HospitaletWed. Jul. 19 - Lyon, France - Les Nuits de FourvièreThu. Jul. 20 - Vitrolles, France - Jardin Sonore FestivalFri. Jul. 21 - Girona, Spain - Porta FerradaSun. Jul. 23 - San Sebastián, Spain - JazzaldiaTue. Jul. 25 - Jerez, Spain - Tío Pepe FestivalWed. Jul. 26 - Cascais, Portugal - CoolJazzFri. Jul. 28 - Marciac, France - Jazz in MarciacThu. Aug. 10 - Hershey, PA - Hersheypark Stadium *with The ChicksFri. Aug. 11 - Canandaigua, NY - CMAC Performing Arts Center *with The ChicksWed. Aug. 16 - Columbus, OH - Nationwide Arena *with The ChicksThu. Aug. 17 - Grand Rapids, MI - Van Andel Arena *with The ChicksSat. Aug. 19 - Des Moines, IA - Iowa State Fair Grandstand *with The ChicksFri. Aug. 25 - Toronto, Canada - Budweiser Stage *with City and Colour, Katie TupperSat. Aug. 26 - Madison, WI - Kohl Center *with The ChicksSun. Aug. 27 - St. Louis, MO - Evolution Festival *with Brandi CarlileTue. Aug. 29 - Kansas City, MO - T-Mobile Center *with The ChicksWed. Aug. 30 - Omaha, NE - CHI Health Center Omaha *with The ChicksFri. Sep. 1 - Sioux Falls, SD - Denny Sanford PREMIER CenterFri. Sep. 29 – Richmond, VA - The NationalSat. Sep 30 - Ocean City, MD - Oceans Calling Music FestivalSun. Oct. 1 – Bridgeport, CT - Sound on Sound Music & Arts FestivalTue. Oct. 03 - Portland, ME - State TheatreWed. Oct. 4 – Hampton Beach, NH - Hampton Beach Casino BallroomFri. Oct. 6 - Burlington, VT - The FlynnSat. Oct. 7 - Buffalo, NY - UB Center for the Arts Mainstage TheatreSun. Oct. 8 - Albany, NY - The Egg Center for the Performing ArtsTue. Oct. 10 - Royal Oak, MI - Royal Oak Music TheatreWed. Oct. 11 - Cincinnati, OH - The Andrew J Brady Music CenterFri. Oct. 13 – South Bend, IN - Morris Performing Arts CenterSat. Oct. 14 - Milwaukee, WI - The Riverside TheaterSun. Oct. 15 - Prior Lake, MN - Mystic Lake Casino Hotel - Mystic Showroom