Yosi Levy: The Yosi Levy Acoustic Project

The Yosi Levy Acoustic Project is truly amazing musical experience that merges into a virtuosic whole the seemingly disparate musics of Israeli folk music, jazz and Indian tabla rhythms.

Each member of the trio is a master of his instrument; Levy can perform anything his mind hears on his acoustic guitar (and self-accompanying) voice, Ilan Salem is the desert wind incarnate, and Bickram Ghosh both drives the group and reacts instantly as needed. The music is acoustic, despite the occasional use of a manually controlled electronic effect that Levy adds to the guitar. Despite whatever the ears might think, Levy adamantly states that there are no overdubs.

The music is extremely intense (even the more playful "Little Ana"), both in its emotional content, and in the complexity of the parts coupled with the tightness the group maintains. Each track is a musical journey not only in its musically implied geography, but also in how each tells a story with beginning, middle and end.

The album's nine tracks last seventy-three minutes (which flies by), with the shortest being the closing "On The Tlv, Madrid, NYC Line" at just five minutes, and the two longest, "Hechalil" and "Morning Roses On The Freeway," running just over thirteen minutes and just under twelve minutes respectively.

These two tracks are especially mesmerizing as they take their time rolling out, rising and receding and then rising again -the excitement generated is deliciously almost unbearable. They are the most free-form and any arranging takes a back seat to the give-and-take of master musicians playing completely within the vibe.

While the album itself takes no prisoners and pins you in your chair, the music is even more intense live live (Levy with flutist Itai Kriss and percussionist Mathias Kunzli).

Get ready multi-enthnic musical treat that does not let up. Bravo!

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