Alex Levin: Press & Reviews

Visit Alex Levin's Press Kit

More and more jazz artists are coming out of the woodworks these days, and while there may not be room for all of them in the long run, Alex Levin has a good chance of sticking around. The Philadelphia bred pianist/composer is a rising talent, and here, he has done a wonderfully sublime expanded trio album, with solid compositions and exemplary playing. He displays a passion for the music, beautiful compositions that range from light, romantic and meditative waltzes to hard-bopping barn burners, all played with sophistication, creativity and flair. He adds two saxes for several tunes, broadening his palette, and then infuses cello for a chamber-like insouciance. If all new artists were as good as Levin, we would be overrun with talent. As it is, Alex Levin, if he continues his passion for the music, has a bright future. ****1/2.

Despite over 15 years as a professional jazz pianist, musician and leader, Levin is only now taking the leap and releasing his first CD of original compositions after testing the waters with his first trio CD, Night and Distance, featuring only two original pieces.

My first time listening to A Reason for Being Alone was on a flight to Los Angeles. As the first few bars of the great horn solo at the beginning of "Blues on Tuesday" started, cramped seating and stale peanuts faded into the background as I was transported to a front row seat in a great jazz bar. Levin's high energy piano soon comes in and establishes new themes for Dillard and Hacker to develop and explore, yet they ultimately come back to their original solo melody. Levin admits that it is "Always a crowd pleaser at our performances," and it does not disappoint as an opener on the CD. The next piece, "A Reason for Being Alone," showcases his writing and playing skills as only a difficult ballad can.

Other notable tracks include, "Emma's Ennui" featuring {William} Martina's cello work in an enjoyable Samba feel, "For Pete's Sake" exploring several novel themes as a showcase of Levin's considerable talent (and as an appropriate tribute to his teacher), and "Polar Bear Waltz" living up to its original title. "Blues through Stained Glass" is an intriguing ending to the CD. Listen and maybe even write down your initial impression before reading Levin's track notes on his website. You will probably be surprised by how much the true mood of this piece comes through in the recording.

It seems that Alex Levin had a very good "reason for being alone," allowing himself the time and space to create an exceptional CD of original compositions. It also seems that he will need much better reasons in the near future as the success of his work takes him in new and exciting directions.

Pianist/Composer Alex Levin’s new CD entitled, A Reason for Being Alone, provides yet another angle to the rich straight ahead jazz tradition with a set of creative originals that provide a sense of freshness, yet familiarity, through the use of various styles, varied instrumentation, solid writing, and well executed playing by all.

The central core of the project is comprised of: Levin on piano, drummer Taylor Davis and Diallo House on acoustic bass. This central core is augmented on various selections by: Max Hacker and Stacey Dillard (tenor saxophones), Chad Coe (guitar), and William Martina (cello). The opening track, “Blues on Thursday,” brings to mind Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers with a bluesy unison sax melody that is juxtaposed against relaxed hits by the band. This mid-tempo swing selection has some fine tenor sax playing by both Max Hacker and Stacey Dillard. Levin provides a beautiful intro to “A Reason for Being Alone” that is very reminiscent of Keith Jarrett. The composition develops into a straight eight pulsed selection with Levin displaying his ability to build a solo with clearly articulated themes and moods which are all nicely matched by House and Davis. Image

“Emma’s Ennui” provides a nice texture change with the addition of William Martina on cello and Chad Coe on nylon strung guitar. The relaxed bossa nova’s melody and harmony is a cross between “Gentle Rain” and “How Insensitive.” Again this provides the listener with a sense of freshness, yet familiarity, all conveyed with thoughtful articulate playing. “Her Solitary Wish” finds the trio in full blowin’ swing mode that will bring back thoughts of the Miles Davis cool cookin’ relaxin’ and steamin’ sounds. “Your Call” is a great modern swing selection! Levin’s voicings are laden with rich sounding fours and seconds and his solo is just swingin’! Max Hacker (tenor sax) is no hack either!

This is a great find! The sound quality is great and the playing is the same. The familiarity of material that is always presented with freshness and thoughtfulness is sure to grab the jazz fans ears and give them A Reason for Being Alone with the Alex Levin’s musical novel, which will hopefully have a sequel soon!

{A Reason for Being Alone} is a trio CD in name only because guest players appear on about half the tracks. It is pretty stylistically widespread. "Blues on Thursday," with two hard-charging tenor saxes, is classic Hard Bop while "Emma's Ennui" is a pretty bossa nova tune with added guitar and cello. The actual trio tracks are mostly gentle and melodic. "For Pete's Sake" is quietly rocking Bop while the title track and "Polar Bear Waltz" are cool soft ballads. The best track is at the end: "Blues through Stained Glass" is a smart, semi-abstract trawl through the Blues that lets Levin show his improvising abilities. It's the one track here that steps outside of an easily identifiable genre and hints at Levin's potential as a composer.

New York pianist Alex Levin gives his sophomore recording a gentle façade along with bassist Diallo House and drummer Taylor Davis. Through this program of his own compositions, he reminds us of the connection that jazz has with the wee small hours of the morning and the stillness of the night. Blues and Bossa Nova play a minor role, as the pianist concentrates on night music for his message—eloquently, and filled with somber thoughts. He brings in guest artists to give the trio a quality that’s far from solitary.
The album begins with a two-tenor saxophone blues battle that stands out as the session’s high point. Levin makes you feel as if it’s late at night and you’re among friends at your favorite nightspot. “A Reason for Being Alone” differs from most of the album through its introspective appearance and the distance that the pianist places between himself and his audience. It’s like closing time at the club when most of the audience has gone. Several other pieces provide the same impression, but the album contains enough upbeat material that one can come away completely satisfied. “New Schooled” and “Blues through Stained Glass,” in particular, carry Levin’s deeply felt message with plenty of reasons to check him out.

Pianist/composer Alex Levin has penned a fine set of
tunes for his sterling players - bassist Diallo House
and drummer Taylor Davis; and the complementary
playing (on selected tunes) of guests Max Hacker and
Stacy Dillard on tenor saxes, Chad Coe on guitar and
William Martina on cello - to bring to fruition. This
music is very much in the straight ahead tradition but
Levin understands how to put his own signature on
what sounds like familiar material. Cellist Martina, for
example, states the theme on the Brazilian-inspired
“Emma’s Ennui” and Levin’s bittersweet melodic line
sits perfectly in the voice of the cello. And guitarist
Coe fills out the sound of the group with color and
verve.

Levin is a smart and sensitive pianist - he’s able to
blend an accomplished technique with a sense of what
works to tell a story. He understands the jazz
vocabulary and also color and texture. He opens this,
his second album, with “Blues for Thursday”, a
crowd-pleaser that, says the composer, was written
with Art Blakey in mind. Both horns state the theme
and weave together a smoking tapestry of down-home
emotion. And then Levin changes course and offers up
a delicate ballad - the title tune - that is dark and quiet.
“Her Solitary Wish” suggests brooding emotion but its
melancholy theme and the powerful playing of Dillard
turn this into a grand statement of passion.

These tunes and all the playing have a little of
everything - blues, bebop, bossa, ballads and,
somehow more. It makes sense that Levin is an English
teacher and in pursuit of a degree in literature. His
writing and the way he creates the space for his
players to speak and act suggest the workings of a
master communicator.

The title of this disc might suggest an inward-looking or melancholic listening experience; but the Alex Levin Trio, plus a couple of tenor saxophonists sitting in—Max Hacker and Stacy Dillard—blows the roof off on the opener, “Blues on Thursday.” It's a bright, gregarious, Art Blakey-esque sound, the horns sparring like a couple of free-swinging welterweights, snapping off jabs and flurries in front of a zingy rhythm. Put another quarter in the jukebox!

This is a “with guests” disc—the trio is joined on two more numbers by each of the saxophonists; a guitarist sits in on one tune, and a cellist plays on two more—but the title cut, with just the core trio, is an inward-looking, contemplative tune, with a memorable melody and an optimistic feeling. On “Emma's Ennui,” a subtle, samba-like number that floats beautifully, Levin and the trio are joined by cellist William Martina and guitarist Chad Coe.

All the compositions on A Reason for Being Alone are Alex Levin originals. He has a nice touch for penning upbeat mainstream jazz tunes with strong melodies, and for changing moods while still maintaining a continuity of feeling.

“Her Solitary Wish” shows some dark colors, with some very strong horn playing from Dillard, along with an inventive Levin piano solo. The drifting, sad-sounding tune “Your Call” features cellist Martina again, while “New Schooled,” with Max Hacker sitting in and smoldering on tenor sax, kicks up the energy level a few notches.

A strong, engaging mainstream effort.

This is a very solid trio ensemble featuring muscular players. Alex
Levin (piano) Diallo House (bass), Taylor Davis (d) and special guests
on various tracks Max Hacker, Stacy Dillard playing tenors, William
Martina, cello, and Chad Coe guitar.


All compositions are by Levin and his straight ahead jazz style is true
to the genre.

On the first tune "Blues On Thursday" there is fine interplay between the soloists and Levin's piano leads the way leaving plenty of room for guests Max Hacker and Stacy Dillard's saxes to stretch out and swing.

"New Schooled" is an up tempo gem that Hacker takes to new heights as he rises to the occasion. Alex Levin swings mightily and this tune gets off the ground in a hurry. Great 4's between Levin and Hacker.

A fine album for you lovers of the true jazz mode.

5 Stars

New York-based pianist and composer, Alex Levin is another one of the fine young talented players around blazing his own unique trail on the jazz scene of today. Releasing his second CD within two years, A Reason for Being Alone is a dynamic new album of fresh new material in the contemporary jazz mode played with grace and elegance.


Joining Levin on this recording are a cadre of New York sidemen including fellow band mates, Diallo House (bass) and Taylor Davis (drums) that make up his standard trio. Augmenting the line up for this project are, tenor saxophonists Max Hacker and Stacy Dillard, guitarist Chad Coe and William Martina on the cello, each appearing on different tracks. The result of course is that you have group that plays with the tightness of a small combo yet producing the sounds of a larger ensemble.

The opening number provides an excellent example of this. “Blues on Thursday,” composed with Art Blakey in mind, features both saxophonists in dueling fashion on a very boppish number. Levin plays some masterful keys on the title cut, “A Reason for Being Alone,” a beautiful introspective sweet little cut that’s all Levin. Cellist Martina introduces “Emma’s Ennui” a romantic love ballad in the style of an Antonio Carlos Jobin score that I play often.

Borrowing a phrase from Theloniuos Monk, Levin pens a melancholy tune with “Her Solitary Wish” in which the leader demonstrates his prowess on the keys backed up by a torrid tenor solo from Dillard. Other terrific cuts include the mellow “You Call,” the very lively quick rhythm of “New Schooled” highlighting some more tenor madness by Hacker and the very jazzy “Blues Through Stained Glass” capturing the very essence of the group. A number that was recorded as an after thought.

In appraising this album I would have to say that this is one very enjoyable disc that deserves to be heard. Alex Levin and the band provide an excellent performance sure to catch the attention of aficionados and critics alike.

ALEX LEVIN TRIO/Reason for Being Alone: Another one of those cool, under the radar piano jazzmen that you should take the time to get to know. Grabbing a degree in literature before lamming out all over the world to live the live of the itinerant jazzman, Levin soaked up a lot of something in all that different water he was exposed to and it all comes together nicely here as he shows his chops on his second outing. The set is driven by a real feel of personal passion and focus on his craft and art. Anyway, how can you go wrong with someone that can capture the feel of polar bears goofing off with his piano instead of a camera? A player you should certainly get to know.

Pianist Alex Levin, a Philadelphia native, has demonstrated a two-track mindset scholastically, geographically, professionally and artistically. After moving to New York City to study piano at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, Levin transferred to Brown University, where he earned a degree in English literature. He then moved to Berlin, where his quartet The Living Room achieved popular and critical success, gaining notoriety for unique interpretations of pop songs by the likes of Björk and Tom Waits.
After returning to New York in 2001, Levin established himself as a working musician by night and a teacher by day. He’s even double-barreled as an academic, teaching English and music in Brooklyn during the school year and working on his master’s degree in Vermont during the summer.

A Reason For Being Alone is Levin’s second release, featuring nine original compositions. His core trio of bassist Diallo House and drummer Taylor Davis is supplemented by four additional sidemen on several tracks, creating a nice sonic and stylistic variety.

One of these supplements, attractive and certainly unusual, is the work of William Martina on cello, an altogether underused instrument in jazz. A wonderfully mellow string voice offering a happy medium between bass and violin, Martina’s bowed melody line gives a markedly Django Reinhardt-ish flavor to “Emma’s Ennui,” and the song itself evokes John Lewis’ famous ode to the gypsy guitarist. This sense is further enhanced by Chad Coe, who contributes a nicely relaxed guitar solo. Martina also plays winningly on the lyrical “Your Call.”

Like most jazz pianists, Levin mixes club dates with private parties, where it is incumbent to know (as the testimonial of one pleased client puts it) how to “contribute to and not dominate the festivities.” In a compliment that might make some purists wince a bit, critic Beth Mann wrote that Levin’s first release, Night and Distance (2005), is “a guaranteed crowd-pleaser at a dinner party.” Levin himself admits it was designed as easy listening, something “people would… enjoy throughout the day—at dinner, while relaxing or reading, or when they were cooking.”

Doubtless, it’s tough these days to make a vocation—or even an avocation—as a jazz musician, especially in New York, which has no shortage of talented pianists. Levin is balancing commercial viability with artistic integrity, and he has thus far done an admirable job of walking what can be a tricky tightrope.

Here, unfettered by the need to remain politely unobtrusive and perhaps bolstered by the success of Night and Distance, Levin signals a willingness to strike a more assertive note with the opening track, “Blues on Thursday.” A distinctly Horace Silver-tinged concoction, the dueling saxophones of Stacy Dillard and Max Hacker make for a pleasantly raucous atmosphere.

Levin’s ensemble works it way comfortably through several genres, including the straightahead “For Pete’s Sake” and the bebop “New Schooled.” The Evans-esque “Blues through Stained Glass” shows Levin’s ability to raise cocktail piano to an art form, and the balladic title track is sensitively rendered.

I love the counterpoint between the entrance instrumental cadenza of the 1'st tune on Alex's disc, & his proclaiming his assertiveness as a fine jazz pianist-improvisor. Then, there's the added instrumentalist-cameos bringing panache & animation to an already viable group effort. Alex's huge tone never sounds unwieldy at any tempo & is particularly sumptuous at the slower tempos. In fact, let me suggest that Alex plays with a warm buttered tone, & an enchanting ability to produce compelling melodic & harmonic creations from his musical magician's hat. I predict we're going to hear a lot more from this talented craftsman.

"Every once in a while a recording comes across your desk that is a new performer or group. What helps is when that artist contacts you and makes their recording known to you. Alex Levin did that and upon hearing the recording I was immediately drawn to his compositions and the way in which his fine group of musicians executed them. Alex Levin is a talent worth watching and his latest CD is worth being part of anyone's library of new artists.

I know he'll get played on my program."

Ron Gill
Jazz Gallery
WGBH 89.7 FM
Boston, MA

"Alex Levin's second release {A Reason for Being Alone} is a true reflection of his passionate musical personality and creative composing. An outstanding recording."

"'A Reason for Being Alone' features beautiful compositions and great ensemble playing, as well as nice orchestrations from Alex Levin. The music is transporting, like a score for a film that has yet to be produced. Alex is a romantic who, I can tell, believes in love!"

Hi Alex,

Thank YOU so much. You and Chris were truly incredible... My favorite part of the evening was when I sat down in the living room and could listen for a few minutes, but it was not long enough! You have been getting rave reviews all day as we have heard from our guests. Please let us know if you are playing in the city--it would be lovely to enjoy your music for more than a few minutes at a time!

Many thanks for a wonderful night--
All the Best,
Tricia

Hi Alex,

Thanks again for coming and playing for us! It was so much fun to have
you there. Everyone really enjoyed your performance. It was flawless
and beautiful and I heard the christmas music you put in there too. :)

--Liz

Dear Alex,
Thank you very much for you time and brilliant performance! Everybody was extremely impressed with your music! You created the perfect holiday atmosphere--everyone was very comfortable. Jennifer told me nobody wanted to go home. No wonder they had to kick the guests out of there!

T. Denonn

Alex,

Thank you so much for making our day so special. Everyone loved the cocktail hour music.

I will recommend you to anyone I can, and will try come up with a reason for another party of my own (next time I book the trio!). I hope to catch one of your shows in Brooklyn one day soon.

Warm regards,
Anna

{Your playing} was great!  Thanks for such a lovely job. 

--Tina

"Thanks so much for being a part of our wedding. You really made our rehearsal dinner night one to remember. We look forward to seeing you play again sometime soon."

"Alex ... Thank you. You and your band were fantastic and totally exceeded our expectations .... "

Alex,

Thank you for playing for our party.  A lot of people mentioned how good the music was, and I'm sure it made an enormous contribution to making the party such a success.

We will certainly recommend you wholeheartedly to friends in the future.

Kind regards,
 
Chris & Sophie

"If you're seeking a pianist to add to the pizazz of your party, to add a tone of musicianship and grace, to contribute to and not dominate the festivities, you are looking for what we found in an evening celebrating our 50th anniversary with Alex Levin at the piano. No problems, just enjoyment and the accolades of our guests."

Dear Alex and your trio, Thank you all so much for doing such a terrific job last Saturday at our wedding.  It was a great party, and the music was just perfect.

Alex, you did a wonderful job at our wedding!! You acted in a very professional manner and played beautifully. Our guests were very impressed by the quality and style of your playing. We were extremely pleased by the lovely wedding march you played. Thank you for everything - you helped make our wedding a very special day!!

{Night and Distance} is true NY jazz - sophisticated, inviting and crisp. It's smart and mature and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser at a dinner party.

{Night and Distance} is perfect for careful concentration on each note or casual listening. You don't have to be a fan of jazz to enjoy this mellow music.

I don't know much about jazz, but this has quickly become one of my favorite CDs. The music is so beautiful, it makes any situation more pleasant. I highly recommend Far From the Home I Love -- the best version of the song I have ever heard.

The audience at the jazz club listened intently to the trio's final song and applauded long and loud. From behind the piano, Alex announces the band names and future gigs. "My album is coming out this month!" he exclaims.

"I wanted to make an album that people would listen to and enjoy throughout the day-at dinner, while relaxing or reading, or when they were cooking." This is what Alex Levin, a New York City jazz pianist, told me when I spoke with him in New York City's East Village about his new album, Night and Distance. He certainly succeeded with his debut, a sparkling album of standards and originals. The songs all convey a sense of longing, be it for home, love, or even 'Autumn in New York.' Alex plays every other Saturday at Detour, a small jazz club in the heart of the East Village. His fans return week after week to check out the music.

"I'm very happy with the way the CD turned out," he told me, sitting across from me at a table in the back corner. "It all works together to create a single, aesthetically complete experience." The CD was recorded in Brooklyn and features some of NYC's most in-demand players, including the drummers Taylor Davis and Ismail Lawal, and bassists Diallo House and Yoshi Wakti.

The recording kicks off with a jaunty version of "If I Should Lose You," immediately introducing the theme of loss to the listener's imagination. The tune features burning solos by Alex and Yoshi, and a longer drum solo by Taylor over hypnotic chords. With the second tune, Alex's original "Bossa A," the same trio finds a deep groove and sticks with it. "That is one of my favorite compositions of the thirty or so I composed last year," confirmed Alex. "I was so lucky to have a chance to play it with such a great rhythm section!"

"Far From the Home I Love" from Fiddler on the Roof seems an odd choice for a jazz CD, until you hear the arrangement by Alex, featuring Diallo and Ismail. "I wanted to do something like Coltrane's 'Wise One,' and incorporate a rubato section as well as a more burning, bluesy passage," Alex explained. "It's my version of homage," he said.

"I've always loved New York City in the fall!" he continues, referring to his solo piano version of "Autumn in New York." "I heard a Brubeck version of this tune when I was twelve years old in Philadelphia, and I'll never shake the mood of that recording." Alex took full advantage of the Steinway Concert Grand at Systems Two Studios on this track, finding deep resonance in the bass notes. He even surprises with a stride piano passage as well as a musical allusion to Radiohead. "I hope to record a full album of solo pieces someday. It presents the pianist with so many possibilities!" said Alex.

"'But Not for Me' is one of those songs that I love to play. The lyrics are so beautiful and the melody is so pure," he told me. After Alex plays the little-known introduction to the popular standard, the trio kicks in at a swinging, comfortable tempo. "Ahmad Jamal's rhythm section played so perfectly with him. I was hoping to capture a similar magic on this track," he said. It serves as a nice intro to the second original track on the CD, Night and Distance.

"One night I was up at three in the morning, and my wife was traveling abroad and I wrote this tune. It isn't too much of a sad song...more hopeful, really," Alex remembers. This is one of the CD's most personal tracks, and it wears its pop influence on its sleeve. As Alex plays in a popular New York pop band, Cicada Songs, it is no wonder that he would bring something a bit more contemporary to his recording.

His composition segues nicely into the final track, Bjork's beautiful composition "New World" from the film Dancer in the Dark. "I love the way the melody shifts from such hopefulness to such a soulful sadness," Alex remarks. "And Ismail's drum solo is such a great ending to the album." I love the way the track fades out in its final moments. I ask Alex how that came about. He explained: "Rich Lamb, who recorded the trio, had this great idea of walking away from the sound at the end of the CD. At first I had no idea what he was talking about, but when he played me the track in its final form, I thought, 'That's it. That's what I want.'"

New York has more than a few great players. Alex is a pianist with a personal style and sound that invites the listener into his world. Jazz can seem so modern and harried, so it's especially satisfying to hear a young player who reaches out to his audience and offers them his art. Enjoy his CD and catch him in New York at Detour when you have a chance!


--T. L. Beddoes, New York, 2005