Ben Westbeech's single So Good Today was the first release on Bronswood, the label of leading London DJ Gilles Peterson, and hit so well that it was time for a full-length CD. This classically trained singer, pianist and cellist played almost all the instruments on Welcome To The Best Years Of Your Life. Despite a difficult childhood - a mother who died prematurely, broken ties with father, a
… wandering existence - Westbeech is blessed with an optimistic character, whose zest for life resonates in the music. His sound is a cross between funk, soul, pop and jazz, supplemented here and there with cool dance beats from drum 'n' bass and house. It is immediately noticeable that he has listened very carefully to Jamiroquai, but fortunately he is not a shameless copy. Westbeech has enough variety and is original enough to go on for years to come. (AD)more