What critics say of Jed Levy
-from the Jazz
Times.com review of "Mood Ellington":
Tenorist/flutist Jed Levy's Mood Ellington can be both admired and enjoyed
for its imaginative reworkings of some lesser-known Duke Ellington
compositions, all performed with skill and affection by a stellar
quintet.
-from the Penguin Guide to Jazz's
review of "Sleight of Hand" ***(*):
"Very impressive and about as inventive a departure from the standard tenor-and-rhythm conventions as one can hope for. Levy's broad-shouldered tone and confident delivery give him the kind of full-on swing one associates with an earlier generation, but he's soaked in bebop and hard-bop practice."
"Very impressive and about as inventive a departure from the standard tenor-and-rhythm conventions as one can hope for. Levy's broad-shouldered tone and confident delivery give him the kind of full-on swing one associates with an earlier generation, but he's soaked in bebop and hard-bop practice."
-from the same book,
a review of "Round and Round" ***(*):
"Jed's playing, though, is again tremendous. He powers through themes and solos in a way which ought to seem bland, in terms of the steely confidence of the execution, yet its nothing but full-throated enjoyment. The sort of record which empowers the jazz-repertory tradition without troubling to make any statements at all.
"Jed's playing, though, is again tremendous. He powers through themes and solos in a way which ought to seem bland, in terms of the steely confidence of the execution, yet its nothing but full-throated enjoyment. The sort of record which empowers the jazz-repertory tradition without troubling to make any statements at all.
-from the Washington
Post, review of "Sleight of Hand" :
"The same level of finesse Levy exhibits as a composer also helps distinguish his playing. He extracts a full, clear tone from his tenor, phrases melodies fluidly and improvises, on original pieces as well as standards, with an appealing blend of logic and invention. For all its surprises and twists, his music never sounds forced or gimmicky."
- from Jazz Review review of "Round and Round":
"The first thing to notice about this fine album is what a lot of sax playing you get for your money. Jed Levy's tenor is unstoppable: the music flow out the horn in torrents."
"The same level of finesse Levy exhibits as a composer also helps distinguish his playing. He extracts a full, clear tone from his tenor, phrases melodies fluidly and improvises, on original pieces as well as standards, with an appealing blend of logic and invention. For all its surprises and twists, his music never sounds forced or gimmicky."
- from Jazz Review review of "Round and Round":
"The first thing to notice about this fine album is what a lot of sax playing you get for your money. Jed Levy's tenor is unstoppable: the music flow out the horn in torrents."
