Ike Levin

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Born: June 26, 1950    Primary Instrument: Sax, tenor

Ike Levin has been playing reed instruments professionally for over 28 years. A native of Chicago, Illinois, Ike was an active performer in the windy city’s vibrant jazz, blues, and new music scene before relocating to the San Francisco Bay area. He studied music composition at the Roosevelt University Conservatory of Music and in the Jazz Studies program at the University of Illinois at Chicago. While a student, Ike performed as a regular member of the University of Illinois Jazz Orchestra and played with the Jazz Members Big Band comprised of many of the Chicago area’s top jazz musicians who used the Band as a forum for original arrangements and experimental compositions. Ike studied privately with legendary jazz saxophone master Joe Daley who helped him develop his technique and establish his neo-bop foundations.

Ike also studied with Fred Anderson, one of the co-founders of the Chicago based avant-garde jazz organization Association for the Advancement of Creative Music (AACM). Under the tutelage of Fred Anderson Ike began to explore new musical frontiers for his improvisational work unencumbered by harmonic structures and strict time meter. As he tells it, “At first, I thought Fred was going to get me into abstract concepts of the music, but initially we used to play Charlie Parker heads over and over again together. He was getting me into Bird’s amazing concept of phrasing which is the foundation of all improvisational work.” However, his real development as a jazz musician came from listening and occasionally sitting in with the many great jazz artists who came through Chicago’s jazz clubs during the 70’s and early 80’s. Whether its “straight ahead” or freer forms of jazz, Ike is never content to rely on clichés or simply replicate past musical phrases. Instead, he is always searching for new musical ideas and sounds all the while focusing on keeping the music swinging.

Ike’s orientation to his instruments and approach to jazz improvisation has had a multitude of influences. Some of his major influences include the saxophonists John Coltrane, Eric Dolphy, Jimmy Lyons, Sonny Rollins, and Dexter Gordon, as well as Albert Ayler. The music of Thelonious Monk and Charles Mingus have also influenced his approach and concept of improvisation. Additionally, Ike identifies such 20th century composers as Bartok, Perdercki, and Boulez as influencing the way he conceives of musical composition and tonality.

In addition to Chicago and San Francisco, Ike has performed in cities across the US and Canada including Portland, Cleveland, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Phoenix, and Toronto. For the past 7 years, Ike has had a very productive association with pianist Joel Futterman with whom he performs and records regularly. He has also performed with such internationally acclaimed musicians as Ira Sullivan, Robert Barry, Wilbur Campbell, Reggie Nicholson, Alvin Fielder, Ed Petersen, and Bay Area jazz stalwarts Oluyemi Thomas, Randall Hunt, Smiley Winters, Walter Savage, and Kash Killion. Ike has also led his own quartets and small ensembles comprised of veteran jazz talents.

Last Updated: January 30, 2010
“He blows with conviction, exuding passionate lines that overflow with dynamic tension.” Cadence Magazine

“A firm uncompromising tenor voice...” Village Voice

“A new saxophone voice…free form phrases erupt only to be calmed by gentle currents of melodiousness.” Jazz Review

“A robust tone complete with soulful phrases and shrewd utilization of space.” All About Jazz

“Levin’s improvisational talents impress with their raw emotionality.” One Final Note

“An exceptional unheralded saxophonist with fresh ideas and powerful emotionality.” Jazz Times ” Soulsearching altissimo terrorisms and careening bass clarinet.” Signal To Noise



Traveling Through Now>
Joel Futterman/Alvin Fielder/Ike Levin Trio
Charles Lester Music
2007
Tracks:
1. Primal Center 2. Ilumination 3. Ascendence 4. LIfe's Whisper 5. Dance of Discovery 6. Moment Dweller 7. Outertopeia 8. Connextions 9. Triple Question 10. Freescapes
Personnel: Joel Futterman, Piano, Soprano Saxophone, Wooden Flute
Alvin Fielder, Drums, Percussion
Ike Levin, Tenor Saxophone, Bass Clarinet

Live at The Blue Monk>
Joel Futterman/Alvin Fielder/Ike Levin Trio
Charles Lester Music
2007
Tracks: Set 1 Set 2
Personnel: Joel Futterman, Piano, Soprano Saxophone, Wooden Flute
Alvin Fielder, Drums, Percussion
Ike Levin, Tenor Saxophone, Bass Clarinet

Enigma
Artist Joel Futterman/Ike Levin Duo
Charles Lester Music
Year 2005
Tracks: 1.Convergence;2.Wonder;3.Discourse; 4.Enigma; 5.Formations; 6.Riddelesque;7.Conciliation;8.Urbanesque;9.Assembly.
Personnel: Joel Futterman, Piano, Soprano Saxophone; I
ke Levin, Tenor Saxophone, Bass Clarinet

First Ones
Positive Knowledge
Charles Lester Music
2005
Tracks: 1.Unexplainable Reality/Events At The Edge; 2.Message of the Stones; 3.First Ones; 4.Mystic Dialogues; 5.SUMOTUWE (After Betty Carter; 6.IN the Center of Boom; 7.Expression for Peace; 8.Crisis To Victory; 9. Sea of Joy/For Dr. Elsie Austin; 10. Prayerful Devotion (For the Children and Elders.>
Personnel: Igeoma Thomas, Poetic Vocals, Gong, Percussion
Oluyemi Thomas, Bass Clarinet, C-Melody Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Musette, Flute, Talking Drum, Percussion
Spirit, Drums, Percussion, Talking Drum
Ike Levin, Tenor Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Percussion>

Resolving Doors <2004 CML 26-007>
Tracks: 1.Spatial Odyssey; 2.Opus de Impulse;3.Minds Eye; 4.Atmospherics; 5.Third Ear;6.Boundaryless Horizons.>
Joel Futterman, Piano, Soprano Saxophone
Alvin Fielder, Drums, Percussion
Ike Levin, Tenor Saxophone, Bass Clarinet

LifeLine
The Joel Futterman/Ike Levin Trio Featuring Kash Killion>
Charles Lester Music>
2004
Tracks: 1.Paradox; 2.Choices;3Questions;4. Now & Hear; Forever.
Personnel Ike Levin, Tenor Saxophone, Bass Clarinet
Kash Killion, Cello, Aftican Wooden Whistle>

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Featured recording “Traveling Through Now”
Traveling Through Now
Charles Lester Music (2007)

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