Jazz Articles about Ray LeVier

Ray Levier: Ray's Way

by C. Michael Bailey
January 25, 2009

If drumming is the subatomic glue that holds a jazz performance together, then Ray Levier is the Einstein of jazz drumming. On his debut recording, Ray's Way, Levier provides a veritable masters class on the seamless and relative incorporation of drums into the melody of a song. Add to this that Idit Shner joins Levier in redefining the blues in jazz and Ray's Way becomes that much more provocative.

Levier bills himself as a freelance drummer in and around New ...

Ray Levier: Ray's Way

by Dan McClenaghan
January 18, 2009

New York-based drummer Ray Levier contends for debut CD of the year with Ray's Way. He's assembled an all-star cast, including two of the finest guitarists plying the six string trade: John Abercrombie and Mike Stern, on five and four cuts respectively.Levier's drumming has a “serve the music" approach that can be subtle or assertive, and often quite rock-influenced, as on the Mike Stern-penned “You Never Know," a tune that recalls Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits' mid-'80s “I ...