Ben Jelen's debut album, GIVE IT ALL AWAY (Maverick), showcases a self-taught musician whose introspective songs are balanced by an optimistic belief in new beginnings

Over lush instrumentation, Jelen tells a poet's tale. His lyrics explore the burn of passion, the nostalgia that remains when the fire cools, and the bittersweet emotions at each end of the spectrum.

Jelen (pronounced Yellin) is a traveler, scholar, lyricist, and musician. Music was the constant throughout frequent moves from Scotland to England, Texas, New Jersey, and finally, New York. Always in a new place, he never formed a band of his own, but practiced solo on piano, violin, and guitar. In college