Ben Finley has a distinct sonic and lyrical originality grounded through dedication and love for the bass (in electric and acoustic forms tuned in 5ths, often with fx). He often composes music that attempts to engage the diverse life experiences of its participants while co-creating community connections with land. He performs his original compositions under his own name and is also a frequent collaborator with a range of creative artists, including pianist Nahre Sol, the Desert Quill Quartet, violist Patrick Behnke, vocalist and social practice artist annais linares, tar player Reza Yazdanpanah, and vocalist Kathryn Shuman. Ben is also an in-demand improviser and community-engaged artist. 

 

In addition to his musical pursuits, Ben Finley is dedicated to eco-cultural regeneration through the arts. As the Associate Artistic Director of the Westben Centre for Connection & Creativity, Ben directs the international Performer-Composer Residency and is Westben's Sustainability Coordinator.

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Ben has studied with incredible bass teachers to refine his own voice, including double bassists Joel Quarrington, Ed Tait, Matthew McDonald, Dave Young, Andrew Downing and Darek Oleszkiewicz, as well as electric bassists Ken Tizzard and Alphonso Johnson.

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He completed an undergrad in double bass performance with a minor in Philosophy at the University of Toronto and completed his Master's at CalArts in the Performer-Composer program. He is a current Ph.D. candidate in the Critical Studies in Improvisation program at the University of Guelph, studying music festivals and creative music practices as sites of eco-cultural regeneration.