2024 – Vizztone Label Group
Christmastime is coming up
soon, and for those in search for new holiday music, I’m going to have to recommend
“Ben Levin Presents a Holiday Blues Revue”. This album plays
like a timeless classic. Levin, a Blues Music Award nominee for Best
Piano Player of the Year in 2023 and 2024, and nominated for Best
Emerging Artist Album in 2020, brings in big-name guests Lil’ Jimmy Reed,
Candice Ivory, Lil’ Ed, and Sonny Hill for this record. Also
appearing on the album is his father Aron Levin on guitar, Takuto
Asano on guitar, Joe Polen on saxophone, Eli Gonzales on
saxophone, Walter Cash Jr. on bass, Jim Anderson on bass Chris
Douglas on bass, Cole Baker on drums, Art Gore on drums, Ricky
Nye on drums, and Oscar Bernal on drums. This Revue consists of a marvelous
mix of ten seasonal tracks, eight of which are original songs.
“Candy Cane”, featuring Lil’ Ed on guitar and vocals, leads the record off with deluxe serving of Chicago blues. Listening to Ed and Levin join forces is indeed a riveting treat. I adore how Levin suavely delivers the 1961 Charles Brown song “It’s Christmas Time”. There’s a certain retro-feel to this memorable song which taps into my soul. Candice Ivory appears with Levin for the duet “Christmas Mood”. With the addition of Asano on guitar, they walk the line between blues and jazz. The jump blues of “Forgot Mrs. Claus” pulls me in tight for another wonderful track featuring Asano on guitar. I love Levin’s cover of Vince Guaraldi’s instrumental “Skating”. This one sure takes me back to the care-free days of my youth. Animated images of the Peanuts gang skating on a pond gush from my memories with every listen. It’s so very fitting to represent the Blues on Christmas with a “Lump of Coal” from Santa. Soaked in a barrel of deep blues, this song features Lil’ Jimmy Reed on guitar and vocals for an outstanding performance.
Ben Levin Presents A Holiday Blues Revue is a beautifully-crafted seasonal album which I could listen to anytime of the year.
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This album available on Amazon : https://amzn.to/4hxEtup
