With the song Apollo from Tony Levins Pieces of the Sun album nominated
for a Grammy award this year, it certainly puts things into perspective.
The kind of impact that Mr. Levins music has and will continue to
have on those with attentive enough ears to notice will be self-perpetuating.
Not only does the coveted nomination give recognition where it is
due, it has finally brought his career into a public eye that was
previously blind to genius.
This album recorded with his band mates from the Peter Gabriel
band and California Guitar Trio is an intoxicating amalgamation
of rock-jazz-progressive-fusion of the highest order. For me it takes
several listens to honestly appreciate what is going on with this
type of recording, and trust me there is quite a lot to digest in
one sitting. Jesse Gress (guitars), Jerry Marotta (drums) and Larry
Fast (keyboards, synths) helped Levin to put this impressive release together.
Apollo kicks things off nicely with a dreamy atmospheric tone befitting
its name and then an old Gabriel tune Dog One, which was never released,
is re-recorded. It is a futuristic sounding number with a beat that
actually sounds more King Crimson then something Gabriel would do,
which I found interesting. I could also picture Adrian Belew singing
it. Ever The Sun Will Rise is the bands magnum opus clocking in at
a fat 9:08. With so many elements from different styles and genres
coming together and being molded and shaped into one song, it is easy
to get lost and then have to listen again to reevaluate what you just
heard. For me that is what makes this music so intriguing and challenging
to hear. Tequila is probably the most perplexing piece, if you do
not look at the title of the track it may slip by you that it was
actually that song, but when you hear a strong voice say tequila it
brings you right back to reality. The curtain closer Silhouette is
the closest thing to jazz-fusion that you will hear on an album that
is predominantly progressive rock.
Without question, I could have broken down each track because I enjoyed
every one immensely, but then you would know everything to expect
and that takes the element of surprise away from you and I do not
want to spoil all your fun. Do yourself a favor and get this CD. If
you are the music fan that you think you areyou need to hear this
masterstroke of instrumental brilliance. I have said this before and
I will reiterateTony Levin is the greatest bass player alive, enough said.
1. Apollo (Levin) - 6:49
2. Geronimo (Fast/Gress/Levin/Marotta) - 3:11
3. Aquafin (Levin) - 5:14
4. Dog One (Gabriel) - 5:15
5. Tequila (Levin/Rio) - 5:20
6. Pieces of the Sun (Levin/Marotta) - 7:20 7. Phobos (Fast) - 7:08
8. Ooze (Levin) - 4:16
9. Blue Nude Reclining (Fast/Gress/Levin/Marotta) - 3:08
10. The Fifth Man (Levin) - 5:47
11. Ever the Sun Will Rise (Levin) - 9:08
12. Silhouette (Levin) - 4:37
Credits:
Larry Fast - Synthesizer, Vocals
Tony Levin - Bass, Cello, Stick, Vocals, Producer, Omnichord
Jerry Marotta - Guitar (Acoustic), Percussion, Drums, Saxophone,
Vocals, Omnichord, Taos Drum
Jesse Gress - Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar, Guitar (Electric), Vocals, Guitar Effects
Paul Richards - Guitar
Bert Lams - Guitar
Hideyo Moriya - Guitar
