jazz2love

Album:  The World and Its People Artist:  Yosef Gutman Levitt Label:  Soul Song Label Website:  https://yosefgutman.com Bassist and composer Yosef Gutman Levitt of Jerusalem releases his latest offering, The World and Its People , available from Levitt’s recently formed Soul Song imprint.  Leading a drum-less, chamber-jazz-newgrass foursome influenced in part by The Goat Rodeo Sessions with Chris Thile, Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer and Stuart Duncan, Levitt delivers a collection of atmospheric melodies and spiritual renderings that have a soothing effect on the listener. The tracks are Levitt's original works cowritten and arranged by producer Gilad Ronen, with meaningful contributions from Levitt’s close musical associates Tal Yahalom on nylon and steel string acoustic guitars, Omri Mor on piano and Yoed Nir on cello.  Pairing elements of orchestral spirituals, country dance, Indian-Asian folkloric, ambient jazz, and improvisation, the quartet dazzles the listen...

Album: Lights Out Artist: Tal Yahalom Label: Self-Released Website: http://www.talyahalom.com Linking a chain of introspections and mindful reflections transcribed on the acoustic guitar, songwriter/guitarist Tal Yahalom translates his thoughts into musical patterns on his new release Lights Out .  His lyrical riffs shift in weight and resonance, laying down notes that form majestic vistas while occupying space sparsely.  The program on Lights Out gives audiences the impression that his narration speaks about finding one's way in the dark, and reaching a positive destination at the conclusion of the tale. The lacy guitar strokes lumbering along "Too Sad To See" move at a meditative pace as though contemplating something very heavy that burdens the mind.  Yahalom's acoustic ponderings are lofty without being loud like in "Sleepless."  His ruminations are relatable to a wide audience without making his sound monumental in size.  The tenderness displayed in th...