Josh Levinson is reviewed by Critical Jazz

CRITICAL JAZZ

by:  Brent Black

Long story short, if you dig Latin jazz and hard bop then Chauncey Street is guaranteed to make your musical back leg shake.

Levinson is a first call trumpet player born in Brooklyn and currently teaching music to middle school students in the South Bronx. A hard groove with an infectious old school grasp of melody, the Josh Levinson Sextet serves up 11 original tunes that take one back to the classic Blue Note recordings of Freddie Hubbard. While danceable melodies and solid harmonic development permeate this recording there is an amazing lyrical drive where everyone gets the chance to display their prodigious talent.
"Chauncey Street" is the title track and where Levinson would hook up with the J train for rehearsals back in the 1990's. The hard charging swing of "Chauncey Street" reflects the atmosphere of a neighborhood brimming with vitality and uncertainty. "F' It" is another somewhat personal tune. Much like the title, Levinson goes for it and nails it cold! The chameleon like makeup of this number reflects Levinson's background from funk to a more straight ahead vibe. Offering up a diverse menu of musical flavors we have the Latin jazz number "Wired." The groove laid down on "Wired" is contagious with an incredibly tight head and a smoking solo from trombonist Noah Bless. "My Blues" was written for bassist Avishai Cohen and is one of the real highlights of this release with Kenny Shanker on tenor and a beat you feel with your feet. Peter Brendler on bass and drummer Brian Fishler anchor a stellar rhythm section along with pianist Jeb Patton. "My Blues" pushes the envelope on meter but never loses the straight ahead swing that is the back bone of this tune. "180 Degrees" is another smoker from Levinson this time with Mike Eckroth on piano and the collective ensemble shines yet again.

Chauncey Street is hard charging post bop knocked out of the park by some of New York's finest. A well thought out ebb and flow of this release does include a few slower tunes. "Rain" is a beautiful ballad that has some deceptive twists and turns reminiscent of some Tom Harrell compositions. Eleven rock solid originals, six of the best musicians in New York and a swing that goes right to your very soul. Levinson's keen sense of melody and harmonic progression keep this ensemble on an incredibly entertaining and accessible level that others simply can not match.

A virtually flawless release with the Josh Levinson Sextet on point at all times!

5 Stars!

Preview the release for yourself:

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/joshlevinsonsextet
Tracks: Chauncey Street; F' It; Wired; Without Struggle; Rain; Heat; 10,9,8,7...; Avishai; My Blues; For Freddie; 180 Degrees.

Personnel: Josh Levinson: trumpet, flugelhorn; Brian Fishler: drums; Jeb Patton: piano; Mike Eckroth: piano (11); Peter Brendler: bass; Kenny Shanker: tenor and soprano saxophone; Noah Bless: trombone.