BEN GRANFELT's 20th solo album "Gratitude" is his homage to role models who influenced his style as a guitarist & vocalist. He mentions Gary Moore, Jeff Beck and Robin Trower in particular. The fact that the album release falls exactly on his 60th birthday shows that it is a very special piece of work for the exceptional Finnish guitarist who is best known from Leningrad Cowboys and his stint with Wishbone Ash.
"Gratitude" is also a retrospective of his career with highs and lows, which, as the title says, he looks back on with gratitude. The fact that he recorded the album with his long-time companions Masa Maijanen on bass and Jari Salminen on drums and percussion shows his down-to-earthness. Miika Aukio, Erja Lyytinen's keyboard player, adds a special touch to the songs.
Stylistically, the work spans a range from blues-rock to pop-rock to classic rock, which is not least due to Granfelt's three great idols.