Tony Levin and His Brother Pete Release Their Take on Old-School Cool Jazz

Tony & Pete Levin: Levin BrothersLove 1950s’-style “cool” jazz? You’re in good company.

Renowned bassist Tony Levin (Peter Gabriel, King Crimson) and his famed keyboardist brother Pete (Miles Davis, Gil Evans, Jaco Pastorius, Wayne Shorter) have always adored it, too, and now the pair have recorded their first album together as a duo, because of their affection for it.

As Tony, who also plays cello on the record, said, “…It’s been a labor of love to write pieces in that style, woodshed my cello playing, so as to use it as a lead instrument, and put together a record with melody based songs, short solos, and, hopefully, the chemistry of musicians who play like … like brothers!”

Their 14-song self-titled record, Levin Brothers, was recorded in the Woodstock, NY, area, and features all original work, except for one song, the King Crimson tune, “Matte Kudasai.” Other players on the album include guitarist David Spinozza, sax player Erik Lawrence and drummer Jeff “Siege” Siegel. Steve Gadd also plays drums on two tracks.

Here’s a sample of what you’ll hear on the record:

Levin Brothers is available on CD and vinyl.

Levin Brothers Track List:

  1. Bassics
  2. Brothers
  3. Mysterioso
  4. Not So Square Dance
  5. Jumpin Jammies
  6. Cello in the Night
  7. Havana
  8. Special Delivery
  9. I Got Your Bach
  10. Matte Kudasai
  11. Ostropolya
  12. Gimme Some Scratch
  13. I Remember
  14. When Sasha Gets the Blues
  15. Brookline Boyz (CD Bonus Track)
  16. Fishy Takes a Walk (CD Bonus Track)

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  1. the way this is all mixed together on that sampler sounds like its like red scare era jazz for crazy people. im almost bummed the whole thing isnt like that…