Alex Levin, Pianist

Jazz Improv Magazine (Print Edition)

Despite over 15 years as a professional jazz pianist, musician and leader, Levin is only now taking the leap and releasing his first CD of original compositions after testing the waters with his first trio CD, Night and Distance, featuring only two original pieces.

My first time listening to A Reason for Being Alone was on a flight to Los Angeles. As the first few bars of the great horn solo at the beginning of "Blues on Tuesday" started, cramped seating and stale peanuts faded into the background as I was transported to a front row seat in a great jazz bar. Levin's high energy piano soon comes in and establishes new themes for Dillard and Hacker to develop and explore, yet they ultimately come back to their original solo melody. Levin admits that it is "Always a crowd pleaser at our performances," and it does not disappoint as an opener on the CD. The next piece, "A Reason for Being Alone," showcases his writing and playing skills as only a difficult ballad can.

– Paul Saklon

Jazz Society of Oregon

More and more jazz artists are coming out of the woodworks these days, and while there may not be room for all of them in the long run, Alex Levin has a good chance of sticking around. The Philadelphia bred pianist/composer is a rising talent, and here, he has done a wonderfully sublime expanded trio album, with solid compositions and exemplary playing. He displays a passion for the music, beautiful compositions that range from light, romantic and meditative waltzes to hard-bopping barn burners, all played with sophistication, creativity and flair. He adds two saxes for several tunes, broadening his palette, and then infuses cello for a chamber-like insouciance. If all new artists were as good as Levin, we would be overrun with talent. As it is, Alex Levin, if he continues his passion for the music, has a bright future. ****1/2.

– Kyle O'Brien