Ben Phan

  Ben​ ​Phan​ ​is​ ​a​ ​professional​ ​guitarist,​ ​songwriter,​ ​and​ ​teacher​ ​based​ ​in​ ​Asheville,​ ​NC.​ ​​ ​He​ ​is​ ​a passionate​ ​and​ ​captivating​ ​performer​ ​who​ ​writes​ ​from​ ​the​ ​heart​ ​and​ ​speaks​ ​to​ ​the​ ​soul.​ ​​ ​His original​ ​music​ ​is​ ​a​ ​beautifully​ ​crafted​ ​blend​ ​of​ ​instrumental​ ​virtuosity,​ ​poignant​ ​lyrics,​ ​and haunting​ ​melodies.​ ​​ ​His​ ​band,​ ​​Ben​ Phan​ and​ the​ Soul​ Symphony, ​​ bring​ ​a​ ​high​ ​energy​ ​blend​ ​of styles​ ​and​ ​influences,​ ​merging​ ​cello,​ ​fiddle,​ ​upright​ ​bass,​ ​and​ ​drums​ ​along​ ​with​ ​Phan​ ​on​ ​guitar and​ ​vocals.​ ​​ ​In​ ​2014,​ ​Ben​ ​walked​ ​from​ ​Mexico​ ​to​ ​Canada​ ​with​ ​a​ ​guitar​ ​on​ ​his​ ​back.​ ​​ ​Upon​ ​his return,​ ​he​ ​has​ ​dedicated​ ​himself​ ​entirely​ ​to​ ​music.  

  Phan​ ​is​ ​a​ ​prolific​ ​poet,​ ​songwriter,​ ​and​ ​guitarist,​ ​with​ ​the​ ​soul​ ​of​ ​an​ ​improviser.​ ​​ ​He​ ​crafts​ ​his songs​ ​to​ ​give​ ​room​ ​for​ ​presence,​ ​self-expression,​ ​and​ ​improvisation​ ​in​ ​the​ ​moment.​ ​He​ ​believes that​ ​the​ ​best​ ​live​ ​music​ ​is​ ​when​ ​everyone​ ​playing​ ​is​ ​co​-creating​ ​–​ ​which​ ​means​ ​that​ ​every​ ​one of​ ​his​ ​concerts​ ​offers​ ​audiences​ ​a​ ​different​ ​sound​ ​and​ ​a​ ​unique​ ​experience. 

 A​ ​year​ ​of​ ​jazz​ ​conservatory​ ​at​ ​Virginia​ ​Commonwealth​ ​University​ ​left​ ​Ben​ ​Phan​ ​rebellious: uninspired​ ​by​ ​the​ ​environment​ ​and​ ​fed-up​ ​with​ ​the​ ​structure,​ ​he​ ​knew​ ​he​ ​didn’t​ ​want​ ​to​ ​be​ ​an academic​ ​musician.  

 So​ ​Phan​ ​began​ ​his​ ​professional​ ​career​ ​as​ ​a​ ​founding​ ​member​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Richmond​ ​Afrobeat Movement,​ ​a​ ​blend​ ​of​ ​jazz,​ ​funk​ ​and​ ​African​ ​dance​ ​music​ ​which​ ​earned​ ​significant​ ​attention​ ​in the​ ​South,​ ​including​ ​a​ ​TV​ ​appearance​ ​and​ ​other​ ​media​ ​features.  

 A​ ​stint​ ​as​ ​Musical​ ​Director​ ​for​ ​Free​ ​Run​ ​Wine​ ​Merchants​ ​gave​ ​Phan​ ​a​ ​chance​ ​to​ ​develop​ ​his professional​ ​skills,​ ​setting​ ​up​ ​musical​ ​events​ ​for​ ​the​ ​company,​ ​which​ ​included​ ​solo​ ​jazz​ ​gigs​ ​as well​ ​as​ ​band​ ​arrangements.  

 Phan​ ​then​ ​joined​ ​a​ ​bluegrass​ ​and​ ​folk​ ​band,​ ​the​ ​Rusty​ ​Strings,​ ​and​ ​discovered​ ​the​ ​joy​ ​in​ ​sitting on​ ​a​ ​porch​ ​and​ ​singing​ ​together​ ​with​ ​others,​ ​simply​ ​for​ ​the​ ​love​ ​of​ ​music.  In​ ​2014,​ ​Phan​ ​decided​ ​to​ ​hike​ ​the​ ​Pacific​ ​Crest​ ​Trail​ ​and​ ​his​ ​life​ ​changed​ ​forever.​ ​Along​ ​with everything​ ​else​ ​he​ ​needed,​ ​he​ ​carried​ ​a​ ​mini-guitar​ ​on​ ​his​ ​back​ ​and​ ​became​ ​known​ ​by​ ​the name​ ​“Shredder”​ ​because​ ​of​ ​how​ ​he​ ​“shredded​ ​the​ ​guitar”​ ​when​ ​he​ ​played.​ ​Five​ ​months​ ​of travel​ ​on​ ​foot,​ ​2,668​ ​miles​ ​from​ ​the​ ​Mexican​ ​border​ ​all​ ​the​ ​way​ ​into​ ​Canada,​ ​playing​ ​for​ ​himself and​ ​the​ ​people​ ​he​ ​met,​ ​transformed​ ​his​ ​relationship​ ​with​ ​music.​ ​He​ ​began​ ​writing​ ​songs,​ ​drawn from​ ​his​ ​experiences​ ​on​ ​the​ ​trail​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​his​ ​past​ ​struggles​ ​with​ ​depression,​ ​addiction,​ ​loss and​ ​love.​ ​The​ ​music​ ​offered​ ​hope​ ​and​ ​solace,​ ​to​ ​him​ ​and​ ​to​ ​his​ ​audiences.  

 The​ ​time​ ​on​ ​the​ ​Pacific​ ​Crest​ ​Trail​ ​renewed​ ​Phan’s​ ​passion​ ​for​ ​music.​ ​With​ ​a​ ​prolific​ ​body​ ​of original​ ​work,​ ​he​ ​returned​ ​to​ ​Asheville​ ​to​ ​record​ ​his​ ​first​ ​solo​ ​EP,​ ​“Hold​ ​On,​ ​Let​ ​Go.”​ ​He assembled​ ​a​ ​band,​ ​made​ ​up​ ​of​ ​some​ ​of​ ​the​ ​best​ ​musicians​ ​in​ ​Asheville:​ ​besides​ ​liking​ ​his 

music,​ ​they​ ​appreciate​ ​the​ ​dedication​ ​and​ ​professionalism​ ​Phan​ ​brings​ ​to​ ​his​ ​work.​ ​The​ ​band released​ ​it's​ ​debut​ ​album,​ ​"Dreams​ ​in​ ​Modern​ ​Folk",​ ​to​ ​a​ ​sold​ ​out​ ​crowd​ ​at​ ​the​ ​Altamont Theatre,​ ​one​ ​of​ ​Asheville's​ ​finest​ ​listening​ ​rooms.​ ​The​ ​band​ ​continued​ ​to​ ​perform​ ​successful shows​ ​over​ ​the​ ​following​ ​year,​ ​refining​ ​their​ ​high​ ​energy​ ​sound​ ​which​ ​combines​ ​fiery improvisation​ ​with​ ​rich​ ​composition.​ ​​ ​This​ ​led​ ​to​ ​a​ ​successful​ ​kickstarter​ ​campaign​ ​to​ ​fund​ ​their next​ ​album,​ ​"Fear​ ​is​ ​the​ ​Teacher",​ ​which​ ​the​ ​band​ ​recorded​ ​with​ ​two​ ​time​ ​Grammy​ ​winning producer​ ​Matt​ ​Williams.​ ​​ ​Phan​ ​continues​ ​to​ ​perform​ ​with​ ​the​ ​band,​ ​as​ ​a​ ​solo​ ​artist,​ ​and​ ​in collaborations​ ​with​ ​other​ ​musicians;​ ​he​ ​has​ ​also​ ​built​ ​a​ ​successful​ ​guitar​ ​teaching​ ​practice, which​ ​he​ ​finds​ ​a​ ​great​ ​source​ ​of​ ​inspiration.  

 Phan​ ​is​ ​a​ ​prolific​ ​poet,​ ​songwriter,​ ​and​ ​guitarist,​ ​with​ ​the​ ​soul​ ​of​ ​an​ ​improviser.​ ​​ ​He​ ​crafts​ ​his songs​ ​to​ ​give​ ​room​ ​for​ ​improvisation,​ ​presence,​ ​and​ ​self-expression​ ​in​ ​the​ ​moment.​ ​He​ ​believes that​ ​the​ ​best​ ​live​ ​music​ ​is​ ​when​ ​everyone​ ​playing​ ​is​ ​co-creating​ ​–​ ​which​ ​means​ ​that​ ​every​ ​one of​ ​his​ ​concerts​ ​offers​ ​audiences​ ​a​ ​different​ ​sound​ ​and​ ​a​ ​unique​ ​experience.