Chicago’s beloved Ben Tatar and the Tatar Tots are back with their second family album of delectable songs about food, Seconds.
Listeners young and old will share a smile when they hear this savory gastronomic extravaganza, jam-packed with tasty treats for the ears and the dance floor. Seconds piles on the variety, with a swinging big band-flavored baking number, a ‘70s Latin-style “Peanut Butter Rat Pack” concoction, a pizza song that dishes out a tribute to both Bob Marley and Michael Jackson, and much more.
Whether it’s jiving to a jazzy New Orleans second line strut or grooving, Motown-style, to a cool funk broccoli song or perhaps savoring sweet nectarines on a riverboat cruise, there is plenty on Seconds to satisfy everyone who shows up. Listeners can thrill to a rippin’ alto sax solo or line up at a rhumba-infused buffet. Families will be grabbing their instruments as quick as you can say “Scat” to try out their favorite licks when the band opens up for solos on the irresistible blues tune, “I Got The Greens,” and everyone will want to head for the kitchen, singing along to the favorite Tatar Tots freeze dance, “Oh Cookie.”
Ben Tatar and the Tatar Tots’ roster rotates among some of the finest players in Chicago to fit the needs of their different shows, and in the same freewheeling spirit, Seconds features an all-star cast of 33 different Chicago musicians, including the LowDown Brass Band and the funk trio, Spare Parts (Ropeadope Records). Ben Tatar and his sidekicks have put together a rollicking, foot-stomping musical feast that will – as with any great dish – have everyone coming back for more.
“We have a strict rule: the Tatar Tots only sing about food,” says Ben Tatar. “People often ask me, ‘How can you write all these songs about food and make sure they don’t all sound the same?’ Well, every food has its own flavor, and every person has their favorites … food is something people are passionate about. It makes us feel good and can conjure up a time, a place, or the people we were with. Food is about history and family, and it is always a part of celebrations and gatherings. So, just as with differently prepared and seasoned dishes, it comes naturally for my food songs to be distinct and stand on their own.”
ABOUT BEN TATAR
From humming Billy Joel in the back seat of his family car during childhood road trips to performing on stages across Italy, music has stretched across the length and breadth of Ben Tatar’s life. A devoted music educator, composer and performer, Ben’s expertise ranges from early childhood music education to a professional performance résumé that includes both jazz and classical music
A multi-instrumentalist (among them, trombone, tuba, piano, guitar, bass, and vocals), Ben Tatar has shared the stage with such notables as Maria Schneider, Slide Hampton, Ben Vereen, Arturo Sandoval, Dave Liebman, Bob Newhart, Phil Woods, and the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra. Ben has performed at local Chicago venues including Gallagher Way at Wrigley Field, Joliet’s Rialto Square Theater, Grant Park’s Harris Theater, City Winery, Martyrs’, Schubas, Millennium Park, The Music Box Theater, The Double Door, and The Green Mill Lounge. He has participated in Chicago’s Andersonville Midsommarfest, Milwaukee’s Third Ward Summer Sizzle, and Italy’s Umbria Jazz Festival. He regularly plays trombone throughout the Chicago area in several jazz and Top ‘40s wedding bands.
In 2014, Ben launched his kids’ rock band, Ben Tatar and the Tatar Tots, releasing his first album, Food! that same year. The Tots maintain a busy schedule performing at Chicago area parks, street fests, and private events. Their shows are driven by crowd engagement, humor, and "something for every listener."
In 2020, in response to the pandemic, Ben presented weekly Facebook Live musical variety shows featuring his collection of unusual instruments, fun songs to sing and dance at home, music history, and more. These shows were included in an NPR list of recommended virtual programming for quarantined kids and families and were featured on Chicago’s NBC-5 News.
Ben Tatar holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Kansas and a Master of Jazz Studies degree from DePaul University. He lives in the northern suburbs of Chicago with his wife Ilene and children Cameron and Everleigh.
Seconds will be available at most major digital retailers and streaming services and at Ben Tatar's performances.
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