From: Dan Rochman Date: Tue, 3 Dec 1996 20:22:44 -0500 Subject: Howard Levy CD - "Border States"
Hrm. A very accidental find in one of my fave musik bins in Toronto, while I was back there for the weekend. Turns out to be an amazing CD, thought I'd mention it on the list. Never know when Howard Levy's name will jump out at you in a bin otherwise full of techno, experimental, and dub reggae.
Title: Border States Artists: Glen Velez - Frame Drums, Percussion, Voice Howard Levy - Harmonica, Ocarina, Penny Whistle, Jews Harp Randy Crafton - Frame Drums, Percussion, Ocean Drum Label: Interworld Music (CD-21907) Date(s): Recorded September & December 1992 by Norman Blain Tracks: Three original compositions by Glen Velez in 6 CD Tracks.
Personally, I think this is a great album. I'm hardly qualified to judge, but I'll go out on a limb and dare to suggest publicly that Levy's playing is brilliant (can you say "Duh"?). There's a definite world-music slant to it (I hate to say it, but they do use "new age" in the liner notes), so if Tuvan overtone singing makes you queasy, better keep to the Rockin' Blues aisle. Myself, I always love to hear new ways/contexts to play the harp - although I'm not sure how many players of less than Levy's calibre could pull off the ethnomusical experimentation he seems to thrive on.
I like the percussion a great deal - many interesting instruments and sounds - but I'm even less qualified to judge and this isn't drums-l so I'll leave it as an exercise for the someday-listener.
All that being said, I consider my money well-spent. Cost me $19.95 (Canadian Dollars, about US$15) in the little book/CD store - dunno how much direct from Interworld.
One caveat: Levy's harp playing is featured on some of this, but it's not strictly a "harmonica" album at all. Lots of interesting music, though, very well-executed.
>From the liner notes: For a free catalog of Interworld's recordings and videos, please contact: Interworld Music Associates, Inc. RD3 Box 395A Brattleboro, VT 05301
No URL or even Phone# in the liner notes - go thou and search.
- -roach
ps: No, I don't work for Interworld. I just like the CD. Et Cetera. (But I can't get Levy to stop buggin' me for tips on technique!)
