Ben Levin
Still Here
Stony Plain Records |
Cincinnati-based piano player
Ben Levin may only be in his early 20s, but
the cat's got an old soul. Despite his youth,
Levin has now released his third album, Still
Here, on Stony Plain Records. Recorded in
"smooth monophonic sound" in an old church for
the proper reverberation, so the dozen
recordings on this new album carry an old sound
not unlike the historic King recordings made in
Cincinnati decades ago. Noted guitarist Aron
Levin accompanies his son on the album as well
as co-writing three of the songs heard here.
Chris Douglas (bass) and Oscar Bernal (drums)
round out the session band.
First up is "Love And Friendship," an oldie originally
co-written by Modern Records founder Jules Bihari. Levin opens with a
tasteful piano solo with classical overtones, with his father later
coming in with a nice guitar solo. Right away we hear how much Levin's
voice has improved and taken on a mature sound that fits this retro
music. Moving to a classic late-night slow blues sound with the original
number "Still Here," Levin again showcases his outstanding vocal work,
sounding like he's been transplanted from a smoky Cincinnati jazz club
circa 1940. Aron's exquisite staccato picking of the guitar strings adds
kind of a Django Reinhardt flavor to the tune.
Levin lays down a two-four shuffle beat on the mid-tempo
blues, "That's the Meal," in which he ties together meals of his past
with a nighttime encounter with his woman. The pace picks up
considerably on the Jimmy Liggins original, "I Can't Stop It," the tempo
being led by Levin's piano playing while Aron comes in later with a
killer guitar solo. One of the best cuts here. Levin then gives a
walking rhythm to the slow blues original "Bad Idea," a creative piece
of songwriting when he sings about various bad ideas, such as "...Don't
daydream about your best friend's wife, if he finds out he may take your
life ..." and "... Don't take out a payday loan, before you know it
they'll take everything you own ..."
Father Aron is again featured on the slow blues, "Please
Let Me Get One Word In," this time with more of a Hawaiian-style slide
guitar solo. We get more of a Chicago blues sound on the catchy "Kissing
At Midnight," originally released on VeeJay Records by Billy Boy Arnold.
Aron again gets his time in the spotlight as he takes
the lead on the instrumental number "Crown Jewel," a tasty mid-tempo
blues shuffle. A song for the upcoming holidays, "Christmas Rain,"
follows, a slow late-night blues on which Levin sings the blues about
his miserable December when his hot chocolate got cold, his torn-up
stocking had a lump of coal, and other blues experiences because his
woman wasn't there with him on that rainy Christmas day. More intricate
and warming guitar licks from daddy-o Aron.
Drummer Bernal provides the intro to the mid-tempo
novelty blues "Her Older Brother" with a rhythmic beat, while Levin
sings about how the mother of his woman was okay with their relationship
but not her older brother and also contributes a strong honky tonk piano
solo. Levin picks up the tempo with the very fun Tampa Red song, "I
Wonder What's The Matter." Again, his voice is well-suited for all of
the material here but even more so for these old blues songs. It's that
old soul that I mentioned earlier.
Closing this absolutely wonderful album is one more
Levin original, the topical "Your Essential Worker," a slow blues on
which he tells his woman that he's "clocking in for her." The steady
walking beat that he puts down with his left hand really makes this one
cook.
With the 2021 blues season soon coming to a close, I can
easily state that Still Here is one of the top ten albums of the
year. Let me change that to make it one of the top five blues recordings
for 2021, and that may even be a tad conservative. Regardless, it's one
that deserves a purchase from every blues fan around, especially if you
love the sound of the blues piano.
--- Bill Mitchell