Ben Levin: Still Here

Ben Levin’s third album release is a mono recording, which is more than a little odd for a 22-year-old musician in 2021. But Ben Levin’s music is not your usual 22-year-old’s music. In fact, on Still Here Levin and his accompanists sound like they just stepped out of a 1950s juke joint. Harkening back to songs like Ike Turner’s “Rocket 88,” Levin’s blues feature his rollicking piano lines combined with “period correct” back-up arrangements. Recorded in a converted Baptist church with everyone playing together like in the old days instead of tracking each instrument alone and then combining them like most modern recordings, everyone played together live. While the album was multitracked, there were no overdubs. The final mastering step was to make the multi-tracked recording into monophonic. I was especially impressed by Ben’s father, Aaron Levin, on guitar. His ability to duplicate the early electric blues guitar sound is uncanny. He also avoids the pitfall of including riffs and sounds that were not in character with the music (no Jimi Hendrix licks thrown in for flash). If you’re a devotee of 40s, 50s, or 60s blues, you need to hear this album while you’re still here.