ADAM
LEVY
BUTTERMILK CHANNEL
2001 Lost Wax Music
"Guitarist
Adam Levy, former associate editor and still
contributor to Guitar Player magazine,
born and raised in Los Angeles, Encino Specifically,
now living in New York City, performed two nights
at Rocco's late-hour venue in Hollywood in early
July. Joining him were Palmetto recording artist,
Hammond B-3 organist (and sometimes pianist)
Larry Goldings, also from NYC and a frequent
visitor on the local scene, drummer Scott Amendola,
from San Francisco.
"Caught
the second of the two nights, Levy and company
spun most of their repertoire with easy-going
self assurance, drifting leisurely from one
piece to another in the manner of Levy's new
album, Buttermilk Channel, which in addition
to Goldings, has Kenny Wollesen — guitarist
Bill Frisell's drummer as well — in place
of Amendola. Anyhow, both drummers are among
the very best of the new youngish crop —
able to fit themselves into most any music genre
— to inhabit the jazz world.
"Although
most tunes offered this night were originals,
those that weren't were presented with originality.
Always swinging, and while essentially retaining
the basic elements of jazz, often bluesy, they
frequently were tinged with a country feeling,
with rhythm and melody abounding. Too, maybe
unusual for most jazz bands was its inclusion
of the Zombies' psychedelic pop hit from 1969,
'The Time of the Season.' But that is Levy,
and that's the way the evening's music, by and
large, went.
"'Body
and Soul,' however, was one of the few played
in the way of a straight jazz ballad. Yet here
again it fit the tenor of the evening's musically
relaxed atmosphere.
"But
lest you think Levy hasn't the musical daring
and the toughness to take it outside, you would
be greatly mistaken. The evening's finale proved
the point. His gospelish 'I Guess,' started
out at a slow gate, marching to the cadence
of a New Orleans funeral processional. Gradually,
although, it built into a rollicking spiritual-like
segment, culminating in a grand din of Hendrix-like
dissonance, thrillingly leaving the audience
yet something more about which to talk."
—L.A. Jazz Scene
