(Jazz, Hard Bop) [WEB] Josh Levinson - Elevation - 2009, FLAC (tracks), lossless

The music is swinging, from hard bop to Latin Jazz and even some African (Masekela) grooves, it maintains its goal of bringing joy into the world. Elevation is about transcending the mundane, going to a place that is higher than our day to day reality.
Album Notes:
Josh Levinson is a New Yorker (Brooklyn first) through and through. His music is a reflection of the myriad cultures and people he comes across on a daily basis, riding the trains to his job teaching music in the Bronx or playing at night at a jam session or with various groups that he has played with over the years. He got his start playing with local meringue and salsa bands and developed his jazz licks at the famous University of the Streets in the East Village, jamming through the night with "C" Sharpe and Tommy Turrentine and many others. He studied with bassist Ron Carter at City College in the mid-1980s, where he got the chance to solo with guest artists Gil Evans and Freddie Hubbard.
In the late 80s and early 90s, Levinson's led jazz groups at small New York clubs. including The Angry Squire, A Hundred Eighty Degrees, and Pat's. Musicians who have played his tunes include Jorge Sylvester, Mike Holober, Uri Caine, Rob Bargad, Alex McCabe, Shingo Okudeira, Atushi Ikeda, Melissa Slocum, Yoichi Kobayashi, Yosuke Inoue, and Mike Fahie. His current band is made up of working jazz musicians, including Mike Eckroth (piano), Peter Brendler (bass), Noah Bless (trombone), Kenny Shanker (tenor sax) and Brian Fishler (drums).
Josh hopes you find this music interesting and entertaining--"my goal is to make people tap their feet, dance in their seats, or sing along with the tunes."
Reviews:
Marcos Dowitch
Beautiful
The tunes on this Josh Levinson CD get right into you. It's a tight little band, and sometimes sounds like a big band. (It's a sextet.) Exquisite ensemble work, and the soloists have their own things to say -- but they don't get egotistical (you jazz musicians will know what I mean). A lot of jazz music these days is well-played but is just trying to recapture the good old days. This composer seems to have pretty deep roots in 60s-70s funk as well as in Freddie Hubbard / Lee Morgan (at least to this ear), but it's very much its own thing. The title cut alone is worth the price of admission, but there is lots to enjoy here. Don't miss it.
----
Gwendolyn Brown
musician/teacher
Those who really like jazz will LOVE this album, All the musician exhibited great skills. I was absorbed in mystical beauty and a grandeur of syncopations, harmonies, rhythms and melodies. It captivated me. This album was musically fulfilling. Thank you!
----
Gregg Ellis
Very Nice!
There is an energy, sass and upbeat feel to this music. "Elevation" takes you there (the title track is beautiful) and the solos work through themes and lead the listener to new innovative realms. I put this music on and as Josh says, "I start tapping my foot or want to stand up and receive the flow."