Levin, Pete - Certified Organic CD (Mega Blowout Sale)
SKU
PLM 008
“Pete Levin continues to push the envelope of the traditional organ trio format with CERTIFIED ORGANIC.”
“Keyboardist Pete Levin has built a fine discography, closely linked to the jazz world, but it's his recent solo work that's most worth visiting. Drawing from the same organ jazz roots that defined Deacon Blues (Motema, 2007), on Certified Organic Levin recruits a larger cast of characters for an album high on groove but broad in reach, with elements of swing, soul-jazz, funk, fusion and more. Levin's own multifaceted nature drives the record, starting from the get-go with his funkified "I'm Falling," where guitarist John Carridi's chunky rhythm playing locks hand-in-glove with drummer Harvey Sorgen's in-the-pocket groove. Levin solos with the organ-equivalent of Scofield's uncanny ability to take things out just enough to create a palpable release when he brings it back in, while Carridi's overdriven solo is bop-inflected but blues-centric.
While grabbing a larger chunk of compositional credit this time around, Levin also finds new approaches to popular tunes. But it's Levin's arrangement of Jaco Pastorius' often-covered "Teen Town" that's Certified Organic's biggest surprise. Usually a bass workout, this time the knotty but singable theme isn't it's primary focus; it's a steadily-building trade-off between Levin and saxophonist Erik Lawrence. Demonstrating undeniably fine skills as composer, arranger and performer whose reach goes well beyond Certified Organic's groove-happy veneer, it's an album that easily places Levin in the same company as Larry Goldings, Gary Versace and Dan Wall.” - All About Jazz