Chauncey StreetJosh LevinsonDescription: PRODUKTBESCHREIBUNGEN The title song 'Chauncey Street' was written in the 1990's. My first band was a funk band called 'The Whole Damn Family' led by Kevin Williams. I had to get off at the Chauncey St. Station on the J train for our rehearsals. It wasn't the safe neighborhood it is now. I made Kevin meet me at the station and I wouldn't go unless he was there. This song conjures up that time for me -- the excitement and energy of a neighborhood that was both scary and alluring. ''F'' It: Well you know what that saying is. Sometimes in life you have to just go for it. It's a long tune with several different feels from funk to straight ahead and back. 'Wired' is a Latin jazz tune. It has a concise head and a wonderful groove. 'Without Struggle' is one of my favorites. The title alludes to the Frederick Douglas saying 'Without a struggle can be no progress.' This music is meant to reflect the internal struggles we have and the changes we can make when we overcome those struggles. Brian Fishler takes a wonderful solo on the entire structure of the tune. Rain' is a ballad that has a surprise ending that seems to come out of nowhere. Parts of the tune evoke the feeling that rains gives you-serene and mysterious. 'Heat' is just that: hot. It's funky and it swings. Great solos by all and wonderful playing by the bass player Peter Brendler. '10 9 8 7...' was influenced by Sam Jones's tune 'Del Sasser' which has become a standard in the bebop repertoire. I love it's intricate design great rhythm section hits and slick melody with assertive punctuation throughout. The title is meant to connote a musical explosion of sorts. 'Avishai' is written in honor of bassist Avishai Cohen. I love the freedom'My Blues' is unusual in that it has a 7/4 figure to open the tune but it transitions quickly into straight-ahead swing in 4/4 time. 'For Freddie' was composed in honor of Freddie Hubbard whom I revere. I listen to him all the time. I was going for the more advanced modal harmonies Freddie worked with later in his career. The final tune is called '180 Degrees.' Change is a huge theme in my life and in my work. Cultivating the ability to effect change on oneself and others through the power of music is I believe my life's calling.
