Jen Benton: Electric and Upright Bassist
Jen Benton is an electric and upright bass player from Hamilton, Canada. She has extensive live performance experience with multiple North American tours and shows opening for artists including Cyndi Lauper, The Cult, New York Dolls, The B52’s, Tegan and Sara, Dresden Dolls, Debbie Harry, and Lenny Kravitz. As well as venues like Red Rocks Amphitheater, Radio City Music Hall, MGM Grand Arena, The Greek Theatre, Rogers Centre, and numerous House of Blues, she has appeared on national television programs such as The Craig Ferguson Show, MTV Live Canada, MTV's Total Request Live, Breakfast Television, CBC, IFC, APTN, ET Canada as well as Virgin Festival and Sirius Radio.
Jen graduated with a diploma in Applied Music, studying at both Mohawk College and Humber College. She was accepted into Victor Wooten's Bass/Nature Camp in Tennessee where she was honoured with a full scholarship.
Jen secured her place in theatre in the fall of 2023 playing bass for Soulpepper Theatre’s production ‘The Guide To Being Fabulous’. She currently holds the 1st bass sub chair for Mirvish’s production of ‘SIX The Musical’ at Toronto’s Royal Alexandra Theatre.
In 2018 Jen was the resident bass player for the Coalmine Theatre’s run of Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Rumours’ album. As reviewed by Brad Wheeler of The Globe and Mail “…Bass player Jen Benton, for sure, accurately reproduced the springy low end of John McVie on Dreams. That bounce is essential - a counterbalance to the heaviness of the lyrics that nakedly and poetically reflected Fleetwood’s romantic intra-band strife, with all the vulnerabilities and defiant will to overcome the pain that came with it…”
Jen has recently started performing solo with great success. She is currently pursuing her own project combining hints of Funk/Electronic/Jazz and Pop.
Jen graduated with a diploma in Applied Music, studying at both Mohawk College and Humber College. She was accepted into Victor Wooten's Bass/Nature Camp in Tennessee where she was honoured with a full scholarship.
Jen secured her place in theatre in the fall of 2023 playing bass for Soulpepper Theatre’s production ‘The Guide To Being Fabulous’. She currently holds the 1st bass sub chair for Mirvish’s production of ‘SIX The Musical’ at Toronto’s Royal Alexandra Theatre.
In 2018 Jen was the resident bass player for the Coalmine Theatre’s run of Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Rumours’ album. As reviewed by Brad Wheeler of The Globe and Mail “…Bass player Jen Benton, for sure, accurately reproduced the springy low end of John McVie on Dreams. That bounce is essential - a counterbalance to the heaviness of the lyrics that nakedly and poetically reflected Fleetwood’s romantic intra-band strife, with all the vulnerabilities and defiant will to overcome the pain that came with it…”
Jen has recently started performing solo with great success. She is currently pursuing her own project combining hints of Funk/Electronic/Jazz and Pop.
Jen’s Rock/Punk/Americana band ‘Back Alley Gospel’ released their first EP in the spring of 2023, of which their song ‘Hello Heartbreak’ garnered over 50,000 Spotify streams by fall. With upcoming bookings across Ontario, including a NXNE showcase, and a new EP to be released this summer, Back Alley Gospel are quickly solidifying their place in the Canadian music industry. Jen also works as a session player for multiple acts in various genres across the GTA. Please see contact page if interested in working together.
Jen Benton was officially endorsed by Spector Bass on July 7, 2011. Jen also endorses EMG pick-ups, Markbass Amps, Mono Cases, Gruv Gear Fret Wraps and Radial Engineering.
