Rob Levit Acoustic and/orRob Levit Trio

Artist Information

Biography

Guitarist, composer, and educator Rob Levit has been described by the Ottawa International Jazz Festival as “...one of the finest young guitarists on today’s jazz scene.” He is the recipient of numerous grants and awards including the 2000 Chamber Music America New Works: Creation and Presentation (Doris Duke Jazz Ensembles Project) Award, the Jazz Composers Alliance/Julius Hemphill Prize, and five consecutive Maryland State Arts Council Individual Artist Awards. Inspired by great composers as diverse as Charles Mingus, Ornette Coleman, Sam Rivers and Pat Metheny, Levit’s music integrates world, rock, jazz, and classical sources with improvisation to create an exciting fusion of sounds. His band, the Rob Levit Group, has performed at the Kennedy Center, Montreal Jazz Festival, the Knitting Factory, First Night Annapolis, and the Ottawa International Jazz Festival. Levit produces, records, and releases his own music on the Symbol System label -- a label devoted to fostering collaboration, creativity, and economic self-sufficiency. Levit is currently Artist-In-Residence at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts in Annapolis, Maryland. In this capacity he performs, organizes concert series, and gives talks on creativity. He also enjoys painting and creative writing in his studio. His website, www.roblevit.com, includes sound clips, schedule information, poetry, and visual art. Rob paints and designs all of his CD covers.

Instrumentation

Rob Levit, guitars/compositions
Amy Shook, female acoustic bass virtuoso
Frank Russo, versatile drummer

Discography

Uncertain Path -- MP3's at www.roblevit.com
Anatomy of Ecstasy -- raging ambient electronica

Audio

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Eric Brace of the Washington Post and Last Train Home writes: [+ Show ]
  

  "Last night in a small Annapolis restuarant, I came face to face with musical greatness. Levit seeme..."Last night in a small Annapolis restuarant, I came face to face with musical greatness. Levit seemed unconstrained, both technically and imaginatively, launching into passages that recalled Pat Metheny, Bill Frisell, Wes Montgomery, Danny Gatton, and most especially John McLaughlin."

• Inside Annapolis writes: [+ Show ]
  

  "Rob Levit has an unbounded enthusiasm for the creative arts. As a guitarist, composer, and educator..."Rob Levit has an unbounded enthusiasm for the creative arts. As a guitarist, composer, and educator who authors poetry and essays, Levit has now discovered another form of creative expression -- painting. Diverse forms of artistic expression and originality, the mark of a true multi-dimensional artist, have always distinguished the work of Levit."

• Master guitarist gives a commanding performance [+ Show ]
  

  "He uses the entire neck of the guitar in order to achieve as many fluctuating sounds as possible. I..."He uses the entire neck of the guitar in order to achieve as many fluctuating sounds as possible. Immediately, it is obvious that Rob is not just a guitar player, but a cultured musician who understands every inch of his instrument."

• Jazz Sessions with Preston Arnold [+ Show ]
  

  "This time around I can say that Levit does have the probable makings of being the Ornette Coleman o..."This time around I can say that Levit does have the probable makings of being the Ornette Coleman of the 21st century."

• Rob Levit's Creative Convergence
  

  For insight into Rob's creative vision: www.insideannapolis.com/current/levit.html

Setlist

A Rob Levit Trio perfromance reaches diverse audience, particularly college students. Why? Because their repertoire includes identifiable yet original influences for a "jazz" trio -- in short, accessible yet adventursome. Open yet edgy. A set can include an ethereal yet jammed out version of Marley's "Redemption Song" or Sting's "Fields of Gold" then swiftly segue into the African inspired groove of "Uncertain Path" or agression of "M-Dive." Students and music fans are discerning and want a variety of sounds rather than the same old same old! The Trio provides that variety in an exciting live set. Of course, with the perfromance and educational background of each member of the Trio, the standard jazz repertoire is well within reach. A most verstaile band.

Basic Requirements

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