Alex Levin has been performing jazz in New York City and Philadelphia for more two decades. A native Philadelphian, he studied at The New School Jazz Program in the 90's before graduating from Brown University and moving to Berlin. His quartet, The Living Room, performed throughout Europe. Alex returned to New York City in 2001 and quickly established himself as an in-demand solo pianist and bandleader. Over the course of the last decade, Alex has released a series of critically acclaimed CD's, including Night and Distance, A Reason for Being Alone, New York Portraits, and, most recently, Refraction. With his trio in high demand in New York and the surrounding area, Alex continued to explore new sides of his musicianship. He established The Smoke Rings, a vintage-style swing band from Brooklyn, and The Lovesome, a swinging cool-jazz quartet. His trio is currently readying its fourth release, "A Sunday Kind of Love," for a 2019 release. On this new release, Alex’s piano is joined by Phil Rowan on bass and Ben Cliness on drums. Tracks include: “Sweets,” Cole Porter’s “What Is This Thing Called Love,” and “Blues for Wynton Kelly.”
" It's always great to hear a new take on jazz
vocalizing and this lady certainly does that! BUT YOU DO is my favorite cut but
the others are great and so modern!" ~ Russ Davis/Voice of America. Montreal-born
and Toronto-based, this jazz chanteuse has had a fascinatingly chameleonic
career, and draws from a deep well of experience in creating her work. Hayle’s
musical, vocal and lyrical maturity, so evident on her albums, is eloquent
testimony to a lifelong commitment to the crafts of singing and song writing.
Susan Alcorn / Joe McPhee / Ken Vandermark - Invitation To A Dream
Amazing sounds from three great improvisers – two of whom
we've known and loved for years, one of whom we're just beginning to discover!
The trio features Ken Vandermark on tenor and clarinet, Joe McPhee on soprano
sax and pocket trumpet, and Susan Alcorn on pedal steel guitar – the last of
which is an instrument that's used in very different, very unconventional ways
– more like a subtle sonic element, but still with some musical qualities –
which then seems to create the same sort of balance in McPhee and Vandermark,
both of whom are more fragile, more sensitive here than we've heard them in
years! There's still a few more fully-blown passages, but the real beauty of
the record lies in the more subtle sonic interplay, which is magical
throughout. Titles include "Invitation To A Dream", "The Eyes Of
Memory", "Rise & Rise", "Every Season Has Its
Reason", and "I Am Because You Are". ~ Dusty Groove
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