Ben Levin - Before Me

Bitrate: 320K/s
Year: 2019
Time: 42:55
Size: 98,7 MB
Label:  Vizz Tone Label Group
Styles: Blues/Piano Blues
Art: Front

Tracks Listing:
 1. I Feel So Good - 4:05
 2. Pappy - 3:09
 3. This Morning - 2:45
 4. Confessin' the Blues - 4:21
 5. Before Me - 4:10
 6. Creole Kitchen - 2:08
 7. Lonesome Whistle Blues - 3:38
 8. So Soon - 3:48
 9. Load off my Back - 3:15
10. Lightnin' - 2:40
11. I Wanna Hug Ya, Kiss Ya, Squeeze Ya - 4:26
12. Open Late - 4:24

This young college student sounds so good playing the rollicking piano and singing like a veteran that it would be impossible for the uninformed listener to guess that Ben Levin is still not of legal drinking age. Not only that, this is his second album—having received two Blues Blast Music Awards for his first one. You may be thinking we might have the second coming of Harry Connick, Jr. but pianist/vocalist Levin does not lean to pop or schmooze. He’s all about authentic blues, and on this release has surrounded himself with “old school” type players throughout: guitarist Bob Margolin on seven tracks, harp ace Bob Corritore on six tracks and Cincinnati King Records legendary drummer Philip Paul on two.
Half of the material is originals and half is vintage covers. Levin’s relaxed vocals and thoughtful, never-rushed piano style imbue his own title track “Before Me,” which carries with a Fats Domino vibe and, as such, is a tribute to the NOLA piano tradition. He’s got the Chicago sound down, too, as evidenced by his boogie-woogie take on the opener, Big Bill Broonzy’s “I Feel So Good,” and James Cotton’s “Lightnin’,”—helped, of course, by veterans of that style, Margolin and Corritore. Kansas City blues style is represented in Jay McShann’s “Confessin’ the Blues.”
Levin is not the only vocalist; Kennedy McPherson takes a turn on the Levin tune “Pappy” and Chris Douglas and Mel Hatch Douglas sing on the standout track “Lonesome Whistle Blues,” one of two that features drummer Philip Paul. Paul himself hails from Levin’s hometown of Cincinnati, and recorded the tune with Freddie King several decades ago. Paul also plays on the Levin original, the shuffling “Load Off My Back,” (“everything’s right on track”), inspired by another of the early King Records tunes. Levin says, “At 93 years old, there is a 75-year difference in age between us, yet we are still able to lock in. It shows the music is alive, not just a stack of old records in the corner of your room.”
It’s remarkable to consider that Levin logged in time in back room clubs or juke joints while developing his sound. He’s obviously both an astute listener and a blues natural. Levin’s loose effusive style proves irresistible on the old chestnut “I Wanna Hug Ya, Kiss Ya, Squeeze Ya” with Corritore and Margolin soloing, as well as they both do on the slow-burning instrumental closer, “Open Late,”which they helped write.
Make no mistake, Ben Levin, the innocent-looking youngster brings the real stuff. ~ Jim Hynes

Before Me