Tony Levin - 2002 "Double Espresso"

 

Although bassist Tony Levin has played on countless albums since the early '70s, he did not get around to issuing his first album until the late '90s. Perhaps to make up for lost time, Levin has cranked out solo releases on a consistent basis since his 1996 solo debut, World Diary. 2002 saw the release of his fourth solo outing in six years, the double-live disc Double Espresso. Credited to "the Tony Levin Band," the album sees Levin joined by synth player Larry Fast, and a pair of guitarists/vocalists, Jesse Gress and Jerry Marotta. Included are renditions of Levin solo tunes, tracks that Levin has played on by other artists, and also non-related covers performed just for the heck of it. Standouts include a cover of Led Zeppelin's "Black Dog" (in which Levin replaces Robert Plant's sex-crazed vocals with his bass, of course), as well as readings of King Crimson's bass showcase "Elephant Talk," Genesis' "Back in NYC," and a few moody Levin solo tracks, including "Silhouette" and "Utopia." If you couldn't have already guessed from any of the exceptional live DVDs by King Crimson or Peter Gabriel that he's appeared on, Double Espresso proves once and for all that Levin has no problem replicating his bass mastery on-stage as a band leader.

This (double) live album offers an excellent overview of the man's career, as sideman as well as with his own band (feat. (Peter Gabriel) band mates Larry Fast and Jerry Marotta). Styles and moods stretch far and wide, as could be expected with these outstanding musicians, from the angular workouts of the opening Pieces of the Sun to the almost new-agey Silhouette it only takes two steps and there's so much more to come! Original material mixed with picks from his own past and brilliant - and often quite surprising - cover versions (Black Dog, Tequila, Peter Gunn!) served with a good dose of tongue-in-cheekness.

If you have enjoyed Tony Levin's two most recent solo works ("Pieces of the Sun" and "Waters of Eden") then this live album will be highly enjoyable, since the track list is taken mostly from them. Now, if you are (like most Levin fans are) a follower of Peter Gabriel, Genesis and/or King Crimson, then there's WAY more to dig in this live production by Tony Levin and the boys (essentially, almost a repeat of the line-up of Peter Gabriel's band from the eighties, with Levin on bass and stick, Jerry Marotta on drums, Larry Fast on keyboards and Jesse Gress on guitars). The song written by Peter Gabriel "Dog One" is featured live, on disc 1 and even Led Zeppelin fans get a bonus, with an incredible rendition of the Zep classic, "Black Dog," but even better are the songs on disc 2, where "Phobos" by Larry Fast is featured, along with (YESSSS!!!) an amazing version of the 1974 song "Back in NYC," from the last album Genesis recorded with Peter Gabriel. This song became a classic performance with Gabriel and his band in his early solo years, before 1980.
King Crimson fans are up for an exquisite couple of songs from the band's 80's work: "Sleepless" (disc1) and "Elephant Talk," both of which are impeccable. Finally, California Guitar Trio, joins the band for a magnificent version of the Henry Mancini classic "Peter Gunn" that was made even more popular by Emerson, Lake and Palmer in the seventies. Closing the second disc is my favorite recent song by Tony Levin, but with a twist: "Belle," with Pete Levin on keyboards and Tony playing some of the most exquisite jazz bass you will hear around. So, who can ask for more? For someone who saw Tony Levin during his concert in Phoenix in 2000, this was a very rewarding addition to my collection: he's a gentleman on and off the stage, who opens up to his fans and is willing to devote time to them. Tony: we salute you, and thanks for putting this double-album together for us!

Track listing:

CD 1
    "Pieces Of The Sun" - 7:15
    "Geronimo" - 3:27
    "Silhouette" - 4:35
    "Dog One" - 5:36 (Peter Gabriel cover)
    "Tequila" - 5:15 (rearrangement of The Champs song)
    "Black Dog" - 5:35 (Led Zeppelin cover)
    "Ooze" - 4:33
    "Apollo" - 8:44
    "L'Abito della Sposa" - 4:06
    "Sleepless" - 6:59 (King Crimson cover)


CD 2
    "Pillar of Fire" - 6:59
    "Ever The Sun Will Rise" - 7:48
    "Phobos" - 7:01 (band arrangement of a song recorded by Larry Fast under his Synergy project name)
    "The Fifth Man" - 5:56
    "Back in N.Y.C." - 6:13 (Genesis cover)
    "Utopia" - 7:39
    "Elephant Talk" - 5:51 (King Crimson cover)
    "Peter Gunn" - 3:48 (Henry Mancini cover)
    "Belle" - 4:24

Personnel:

    Larry Fast : synthesizers, bass drum (disc1-07)
    Jesse Gress : guitars, vocals (disc1-04 and 05)
    Tony Levin : bass, cello, Chapman stick, acoustic guitar (disc1-08), lead vocals (disc1-09, disc2-07), vocals (disc1-04,05 and 10)
    Jerry Marotta : drums, sax, vocals, percussion (disc1-05), acoustic guitar (disc1-08), Funk Finger guitar (disc1-07), lead vocals (disc1-10, disc2-05)
    The California Guitar Trio (Bert Lams, Hideyo Moriya, Paul Richards) : acoustic guitars (disc2-08)
    Doug Stringer : drums (disc1-05)
    Pete Levin : keyboards (disc2-09)