Ben Levin Carryout or Delivery

Ben Levin
Carryout or Delivery
VizzTone

About Ben Levin's previous album, "Before Me," I wrote that "he plays and sounds with a maturity far beyond his youth." I concluded, "After listening to this recording several times, I am struck by how fresh this music keeps sounding. "Before Me" is an exceptional recording." "Carryout or Delivery" is his follow-up recording recorded during the Covid-19 pandemic. Recorded in mid-June 2020, he is backed by his father Aron Levin on guitar, Oscar Bernal on drums, and Chris Douglass on bass.

Ben Levin wrote eight originals, and there are four covers. With this solid backing band, he is heard on piano, electric piano, and organ. He again impresses with his unforced, heartfelt vocals as well as his superb keyboard playing. He mixes flourishes of virtuosity with more nuanced playing. He evokes Otis Spann's piano on the opening "You Know" as he sings to his baby that if she keeps running around on him, she won't be around him much more. He displays an adroit touch on the electric piano is displayed on "Too Good For Me." "Carryout or Delivery" has a jazzy tinge with a vocal chorus, and Aron Levin adding tasty fills in addition to Ben Levin's sophisticated piano solo.

"Nola Night" is a delightful instrumental with a Latin tinge evocative of the Crescent City. Another salute to the Crescent City is a top-notch rendition of Professor Longhair's recording "Hadacol Bounce." Also of note is Levin's unrushed cover of Frank Frost's "My Back Scratcher" with him playing some restrained but greasy organ. Another selection is his introspective rendition of Floyd Dixon's "Time Brings About a Change." It is a standout rendition in the manner of Dixon and Charles Brown and closes another outstanding recording from Ben Levin.

I received a review copy from a publicist. Here is a selection from this album.

John Primer & Bob Corritore The Gypsy Woman Told Me

John Primer & Bob Corritore
The Gypsy Woman Told Me
Vizztone/ SWMAC Records

This is the third recording by the former Muddy Waters-Magic Slim sideman and harmonica player Bob Corritore. Supporting Primer's vocals and guitars and Corritore's harp are a variety of other artists including guitarists Jimi 'Primetime' Smith and Billy Flynn, pianists Bob Welsh and Ben Levin, bassists Kedar Roy, Mike Hightower and Troy Sandow, and drummers June Core and Brian Fahey. Part of this recording of traditional Chicago blues was recorded at Greaseland Studios, and Kid Andersen plays organ on one track.

Primer is in good form with his straight-forward vocals that conjure up Muddy Waters and Magic Slim, while Corritore comes off like little Walter on some tracks and Sonny Boy Williamson elsewhere. The studio bands keep a crisp shuffle groove going and provide tight backing. There are plenty of strong Chicago blues performances, including the title track that Muddy Waters made famous, Jimmy Rogers' "Left Me With a Broken Heart," and the reworking of Little Milton's "Walking the Back Streets and Crying" into a 50s sounding Chicago band blues. Primer plays some driving slim on his original, "Little Bitty Woman," which musically evokes Junior Parker's "Mystery Train." The backing players sit out on an emphatic cover of Lil Son Jackson's "Gambling Blues." At the same time, Primer's "Walked So Long," is performed acoustically with Sandow playing upright bass and Fahey using brushes.

John Primer remains a treasure as he continues to play first-rate down blues in the classic Chicago blues vein with sympathetic backing from Corritore. With an imaginative selection of material and the idiomatic support provided, Primer and Corritore have another gem.

I received my review copy from Vizztone. Here are John Primer & Bob Corritore performing.

Ben Levin Before Me

Ben Levin
Before Me
VizzTone

Listening to Ben Levin, one might believe as annotator Mark Thompson observes, is a "product of decades of long nights in dark clubs and smoky juke joints." He has just finished his first year of college even though he plays and sounds with a maturity far beyond his youth. He is from Cincinnati and been playing since he was 11. This is his second recording, and he is backed by Chris Douglas on bass, Oscar Bernal on drums along with his father, Aron Levin on several tracks. Bob Margolin on guitar and Bob Corritore on harmonica are several selections, while legendary King Records drummer Phillip Paul plays on two of the 12 songs.

One is impressed not merely by his solid blues piano technique, but the maturity he displays. His maturity is shown by the fact he never sounds like he is trying to impress people, but simply plays what sounds right. The opening track is a rendition of Big Bill Broonzy's "I Feel So Good." It is based on Muddy Waters' version with Margolin and Corritore helping provide the Chicago blues feel. In addition to his piano, he sings with an appealing, straight-forward, understated delivery. His approach is at the root of a memorable interpretation of Jay McShann's "Confessin' the Blues," with Corritore providing some horn-like harmonica and Margolin in a jazzy vein.

"Before Me" is an original that evokes classic Fats Domino that illustrates his touch, restraint, and taste. Much the same can be said about his playing on the instrumental, "Creole Kitchen." This is a striking tribute to Professor Longhair and other New Orleans piano professors. Phillip Paul takes over the drum chair for the cover of a Freddie King recording, "Lonesome Whistle Blues." This cover features a convincing vocal delivery, strong string-bending from Bob Margolin and an understated piano solo. Then there is "So Soon," an atmospheric blues with some effective spare piano.

Otis Spann's influence is evident during the interpretation of a James Cotton instrumental, "Lightnin'," with Margolin and Corritore capturing the flavor on the solid Chicago blues. Levin, Margolin, and Corritore collaborated on the closing instrumental "Open Late," that sounds like an unreleased Otis Spann slow blues with Corritore on chromatic harmonica. I was not familiar with Ben Levin before this recording. I was impressed by his talent and his musical sense from the first time I heard "I Feel So Good." After listening to this recording several times, I am struck by how fresh this music keeps sounding. "Before Me" is an exceptional recording.

I received my review copy from VizzTone. This review appeared in the September-October 2019 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 386). Here is a video of Ben with Bob Margolin on guitar and Phillip Paul on drums.