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Rob Levit Trio: Uncertain Path
ByBacking Levit are upright bassist Amy Shook and drummer/percussionist Frank Russo. Shook is the bassist to match Levit's eclectic style. On the wild electric cooker "M-Dive," she amazingly equals Levit note for note and is just as at home elegantly rendering beautifully subtle melodies on Sting's "Fields of Gold" and "Ballad #3." Russo is likewise able to handle the program in flawless fashion. He evidences a quick rhythm that keeps up with Levit's rapid but conventional jazz picking and subtle blue notes on "Singularity" and then displays an open style that allows the trio to explore the freer but lyrical "Moving Closer."
Bob Marley's "Waiting in Vain" also features some excellent drum and bass work as the rhythm section maintains the song's credibility while Levit electronically explores its outermost fringes until he is brought back to the simple melody. The title cut hesitates down an "Uncertain Path" as drum and bass are joined by a quick flurry of jazz guitar notes until they find a comfortable groove that has Levit playing a long sustained blues riff until things again become a bit more uncertain. "Footprints," another cooker, begins as an intriguing jazz piece but then morphs into a super guitar rocker. Levit contorts the theme and wrings it until it screams while Amy lives up to her name; shaking my double 15" woofers with reckless abandon. Throughout, Levit shows an uncommon mastery of both speed and melody that is derived from his jazzer's musical sense, rocker's flair and bluesman's soul.
Track Listing
1. Singularity - 3:20 (Rob Levit) 2. Fields of Gold - 4:32 (Sting) 3. Uncertain Path - 5:44 (Rob Levit) 4. After You (For Elaine) - 6:22 (Rob Levit)5. M-Dive - 3:57 (Rob Levit) 6. Safe Returns (In Memoriam 9/11) - 4:48 (Rob Levit) 7. Sophia/Solace - 8:09 (Rob Levit) 8. Daily Grind Blues - 4:13 (Rob Levit)9. Ballad #3 - 5:10 (Rob Levit) 10. The Undoing (for Jaya) - 3:21 (Rob Levit) 11. Moving Closer - 4:41 (Rob Levit) 12. Waiting in Vain - 3:58 (Bob Marley) 13. Footprints - 6:00 (Rob Levit)
Personnel
Rob Levit
guitarRob Levit (guitars), Amy Shook (bass), Frank Russo (drums and percussion)
Album information
Title: Uncertain Path | Year Released: 2004 | Record Label: Symbol System Records