Charles Brown - Someone To Love

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:00
Size: 105.3 MB
Styles: Blues-Jazz vocals/piano
Year: 1992
Art: Front

[4:42] 1. Someone To Love
[7:36] 2. I Wonder How She Knows
[3:59] 3. Don't Drive Me Away
[6:25] 4. Not So Far
[4:50] 5. Tell Me You'll Wait For Me
[5:56] 6. Be Sharp You'll See
[4:33] 7. Every Little Bit Hurts
[3:45] 8. I Want To Go Home
[4:09] 9. I Don't Want To Get Adjusted

Acoustic Bass – Tommie McKenzie; Drums – Gaylord Birch; Guitar – Danny Caron; Producer – Ron Levy; Slide Guitar – Bonnie Raitt (tracks: 7); Tenor Saxophone – Bobby Forté, Clifford Solomon; Vocals – Bonnie Raitt (tracks: 1); Vocals, Piano, Organ – Charles Brown.

Bonnie Raitt, who played such an integral role in Charles Brown's successful comeback, guests on two tracks on the pianist's Bullseye Blues encore, Someone to Love, which isn't quite the tour de force that his previous outing was, but is eminently solid nonetheless. Danny Caron and Clifford Solomon once again shine in support of their leader. ~Bill Dahl

Someone To Love mc
Someone To Love zippy

---

Ron Levy's Wild Kingdom - B-3 Blues & Grooves

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:25
Size: 122.3 MB
Styles: Blues/Jazz/Soul, B-3
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[4:22] 1. Levtronic Blues
[5:49] 2. 6 8 Summertime
[5:29] 3. Chillin' Out (Feat. Albert Collins)
[4:50] 4. Gimme A Break
[4:32] 5. Prayin' The Blues Pt 1
[3:44] 6. Meter Made
[3:22] 7. Defrostin' (Feat. Albert Collins & Memphis Horns)
[7:06] 8. Eema's Song
[3:34] 9. Funk Finger
[5:01] 10. Rooseveltin'
[5:33] 11. Prayin' The Blues Pt 2

Ron Levy is one of the finest young masters of the Hammond B-3. Here are 11 soul-satisfying cuts that feature Levy's funky keyboard playing -- many written by Levy himself. Those who look for B-3 jams in the soul-jazz vein that are as funky as can be will not be disappointed. This is a great CD to own. ~Stephen Thomas Erlewine

B-3 Blues & Grooves mc
B-3 Blues & Grooves zippy

---

Ron Levy's Wild Kingdom - Green Eyed Soul

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:03
Size: 144.3 MB
Styles: B3 Organ Jazz/Soul/Blues/Funk
Year: 2004
Art: Front

[7:22] 1. Always Outnumbered
[7:18] 2. The Soulside
[6:18] 3. Like, Like Dope
[5:25] 4. Lovin' You Again
[7:44] 5. Green Eyed Soul
[7:18] 6. Silver Plated
[5:11] 7. Soulard Soul Stew
[7:12] 8. Yo Bro Youssel
[9:11] 9. El Fuego De Lowell

A tasty bit of organ jazz from Ron Levy -- an unsung hero of the Hammond, and one of the leading lights of the Northeast scene! Ron's playing is steeped in the classic styles of the 60s -- some nice Jack McDuff touches on the keys at times, but overall with a heavier approach to the funk that reminds us more of some of the heavy-hitters in the Prestige jazz funk early 70s years -- like Leon Spencer or Groove Holmes. The album's got a surprisingly classic feel -- no gimmicks, no "jam too much" playing -- just tight, right, and outta site funky jazz -- played in a style that really appreciates the classics, but which gives it the kind of energy that we first heard getting pumped back into the music from the Desco/Daptone crew!

Green Eyed Soul

---

Ron Levy's Wild Kingdom - Funky Fiesta!

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:04
Size: 149.0 MB
Styles: B-3 Organ Funk/Jazz/Blues
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[6:46] 1. Bunga Bunga Akimbo
[5:25] 2. Rebbe Of Rhythm
[6:19] 3. Back In The Back
[5:30] 4. Badd Mannish Boyz
[5:34] 5. Street Beats
[5:42] 6. Saxy Girl
[6:13] 7. Hittin' It Hard & Sweet
[6:10] 8. Phunky Memories
[5:53] 9. Sunny Sunday
[6:19] 10. Funky Fiesta
[5:09] 11. Someday

Ron Levy's Wild Kingdom grooveliciously combines, works, plays in, stretches out, distorts, harmonizes and reflects the familiar and exotic, the smooth and toxic, the dynamic ups and the downs, the known and unknown boundaries of Blues and Jazz, Latin and Gospel, Hip-Hop and free style feelings into a unique musical gumbo, exciting young hip club and college audiences as well as the older veteran Blues and Jazz aficionados everywhere across the globe.

Levy, a steady 40+ year veteran of every cool scene to be seen, whether it be with Albert King, B.B. King, Roomful of Blues, Luther 'Guitar Jr' Johnson or Karl Denson and as organist, pianist, composer, arranger, sideman or soloist, producer and A&R man of over 200 recording projects of traditional and contemporary Blues, R&B, Jazz, Gospel, and real deal, hardcore music from New Orleans, Memphis, NYC, West Coast, Texas and beyond, has garnered many awards and nine Grammy nominations. His original compositions and recordings have been used on every television network and over a dozen films.

He has culminated and organized his musical/magical know-how and formed an elite group of top musicians, Ron Levy's Wild Kingdom. He's currently performing on side projects with the up-and-coming Blues guitarist and singer Barrett Anderson [along with Per Hanson], 2013 winners for 'Best Blues Band' at the Boston Music Awards, SPANK! [with Fuzz and Eric Kalb of Deep Banana Blackout] and Philip Pemberton, the current lead singer with Roomful of Blues. Levy and Pemberton were just inducted into the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame. [Ron is in New Hampshire's HOF too!] Levy is currently teaching Hammond organ and music theory in the Boston area and around the world via Skype as well.

Funky Fiesta!

---

Ron Levy's Wild Kingdom - After Midnight Grooves

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:17
Size: 126.5 MB
Styles: Jazz/blues
Year: 2004
Art: Front

[ 8:39] 1. After Midnight Groove
[ 7:42] 2. Groovin' Wichu
[ 7:59] 3. Just The Way It Went
[ 5:58] 4. Like Back In The Day
[ 6:12] 5. Slinky
[ 8:12] 6. Keepin' Up The Love
[10:32] 7. Back At The Levshack

Ron Levy – composer, producer, organ, piano, electric pianos, vibes, strings, basses, clavinet, Melvin Sparks - guitar, Karl Denson - sax/flute, "Sax" Gordon - bari-sax, Arkady Beletsky - strings, Jeff Lockhart - guitar, Russ Lawton - drums, Yahuba Garcia - percussion.

"After Midnight Grooves (Levtron 204) is the latest from Ron Levy's Wild Kingdom, on which the legendary organist and producer lays down a steamy set of soul-jazz tinged with Latin and funk. The supporting cast is outrageous: 3 percussionists keep things cooking, Karl Denson is a key player on sax and flute, and acid jazz legend Melvin Sparks lays down devastating, tasteful guitar solos on 'Groovin Wichu' the title track, and 'Just the Way it Went'. The most accessible cut might be 'Like Back in the Day', with its on the-edge-of-your-memory melody, but strings and programming make 'Keepin' Up the Love' (with great guitar from Jeff Lockhart) and 'Back at the Loveshack' equally hip. Levy's piano and vibes add essential texture, his B-3 technique puts him in the top rank of todays traditionalists, and his compositional and arrangements skills put him in the next decade." ~ Blues Revue

After Midnight Grooves

---

Ron Levy's Wild Kingdom - Zim Zam Zoom

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:51
Size: 116.4 MB
Styles: Soul/Blues/Jazz organ
Year: 1996
Art: Front

[ 5:54] 1. Zim Zam Zoom
[ 6:08] 2. C.C. Rider
[ 6:41] 3. Lost Tribes
[ 6:50] 4. U Rockin' Me
[ 4:28] 5. Sons Of Abraham
[ 4:40] 6. Silver Cannonball 2
[10:28] 7. Last Go Round
[ 5:39] 8. Lonely Avenue

If you like blues and funky soul-jazz (with just a twist of the future), this is an album to enjoy. Hammond B-3 artist Ron Levy gathers some of the greatest groove players of all time for this steam session, including Melvin Sparks on guitar and the great Idris Muhammad on drums. Call it retro or acid-jazz if you want, but groove lover Levy never stops playing that funky soul-jazz long enough to look back. This album carries the groove tradition on, maintaining that integrity. Produced by Bob Porter. ~Michael Erlewine

Zim Zam Zoom

---

Ron Levy's Wild Kingdom - Funky Soul Grooves

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 77:42
Size: 177.9 MB
Styles: Jazz-funk
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[ 4:49] 1. Organ Colossus
[ 5:27] 2. Chillin' Out
[ 7:15] 3. The Soulside
[ 6:36] 4. Better Save Yo'seff
[ 6:03] 5. In The Middle The King
[10:07] 6. Like, Like Dope
[ 6:12] 7. Slinky
[ 5:55] 8. Like Back In The Day
[ 3:33] 9. Funk Finger
[ 6:12] 10. Hittin' It Hard And Sweet
[ 5:26] 11. Finding My Way
[ 6:19] 12. Greaze Is What's Good
[ 3:42] 13. Meter Made

This album is part of a four part series showcasing Ron Levy as a composer and master musician. It is an anthology drawn from the various recordings Mr. Levy produced, arranged and played his signature sound on piano, electric piano, vibes, guitar and Hammond organ. There are even a couple of his Blues inspired vocals!

Historically over the last twenty years, Ron has blended many different styles and genres into his own unique musical gumbo within each of his critically acclaimed and popular recordings. Enough so, he has now been able to assemble four separate full length albums comprised in each genre of grooves. These album titles aptly describe each particular mood and vibe contained in each of them: “Mo’ JAZZY Grooves” - “FUNKY Soul Grooves” - “Mo’ BLUES & Grooves” and “LATIN-a-licious Grooves”.

This newest collection is in addition to his three previously released anthologies: Ron Levy’s Wild Kingdom - “Best Grooves and Jams” - “Jazz-a-licious Grooves” and “Best of RLWK”. As usual, Levy has always surrounded himself with many of the most talented musicians in the world throughout his long and celebrated career. They all have interpreted his compositions with soulful empathy, adding their own unique artistic creative contributions and styles to help fulfill Ron’s vision of his original compositions and are featured throughout all four albums. Included in this collection are: Karl Denson, Melvin Sparks, The Memphis Horns, Idris Muhammad, James Gadson, David T. Walker, Stanley Banks, Jeff Lockhart, Crispin Cioe, ‘Sax’ Gordon, Albert Collins, Tutu Jones, Johnnie Bassett, Preston Shannon, Smokey Wilson, Bobby Forte, Jim Spake and Scott Thompson, Anson Funderburg and Sam Myers, Kim Wilson, Jimmie Vaughan, Roomful of Blues, Lowell Fulson, Larry Davis and Ronnie Earl.

Funky Soul Grooves

---

Ron Levy's Wild Kingdom - Latin-A-Licious Grooves

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 73:16
Size: 167.7 MB
Styles: Latin jazz
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[ 6:20] 1. Funky Fiesta
[ 6:41] 2. Cuch Cuch
[ 6:17] 3. Back In The Back
[ 4:40] 4. Silver Cannonball
[ 5:12] 5. Soulard Soul Stew
[ 5:07] 6. El Fuego De Lowell Pt 2
[10:19] 7. Gaucha Girl
[ 7:04] 8. Eema's Song
[ 9:38] 9. Voodoo Boogaloo
[ 4:11] 10. Spangled Star Boogaloo
[ 7:40] 11. Groovin Whichu

This album is part of a four part series showcasing Ron Levy as a composer and master musician. It is an anthology drawn from the various recordings Mr. Levy produced, arranged and played his signature sound on piano, electric piano, vibes, guitar and Hammond organ. There are even a couple of his Blues inspired vocals!

Historically over the last twenty years, Ron has blended many different styles and genres into his own unique musical gumbo within each of his critically acclaimed and popular recordings. Enough so, he has now been able to assemble four separate full length albums comprised in each genre of grooves. These album titles aptly describe each particular mood and vibe contained in each of them: “Mo’ Jazzy Grooves” - “Funk-a-licious Grooves” - “Mo’ Blues & Grooves” and “Latin-a-licious Grooves”.

This newest collection is in addition to his three previously released anthologies: Ron Levy’s Wild Kingdom - “Best Grooves and Jams” - “Jazz-a-licious Grooves” and “Best of RLWK”. All titles are distributed by CDBaby and on the Ron Levy Facebook fan page music store. As usual, Levy has always surrounded himself with many of the most talented musicians in the world throughout his long and celebrated career. They all have interpreted his compositions with soulful empathy, adding their own unique artistic creative contributions and styles to help fulfill Ron’s vision of his original compositions and are featured throughout all four albums. Included in this collection are: Karl Denson, Melvin Sparks, The Memphis Horns, Idris Muhammad, James Gadson, David T. Walker, Stanley Banks, Jeff Lockhart, Crispin Cioe, ‘Sax’ Gordon, Albert Collins, Tutu Jones, Johnnie Bassett, Preston Shannon, Smokey Wilson, Bobby Forte, Jim Spake and Scott Thompson, Anson Funderburg and Sam Myers, Kim Wilson, Jimmie Vaughan, Roomful of Blues, Lowell Fulson, Larry Davis and Ronnie Earl. These songs as well as many of these personalities (and many more) are further explained and candidly revealed in Ron’s web-book, “Tales of a Road Dog” available on his website. We hope you enjoy these selections and include them in your regular rotation and consider them among your favorites. So stay tuned, there’s much more to come. Enjoy!

Latin-A-Licious Grooves

---

Ron Levy's Wild Kingdom - Finding My Way

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:53
Size: 134.8 MB
Styles: Jam bands, Soul-jazz
Year: 2003
Art: Front

[7:54] 1. I Try & I Try
[7:20] 2. Best Cookies
[8:12] 3. Steady Like Freddy
[5:51] 4. The Wes Side
[6:13] 5. Exfiled
[6:41] 6. Cuch Cuch
[7:00] 7. Some Sorta Blue
[5:26] 8. Finding My Way
[4:11] 9. Spangled Star Boogaloo

On Finding My Way, organ and piano boss Ron Levy tries to mix up the groove gumbo by incorporating more loops and programmed beats, but also by bringing back the great Melvin Sparks on guitar, and adding the flute and saxophone talents of jazzed-out funkmaster Karl Denson to the mix. Largely, it works. While Levy doesn't seem to be interested in sung beats for any reason other than to hang solos on, he nonetheless gets enough mileage from them and keeping the riffs in the pocket to keep them sailing all the way through. There is plenty of jazz virtuosity, as evidenced by the title cut, "Steady Like Freddy," "I Try & I Try," and "The West Side"; there is plenty of good-time funky stuff, as well, such as "Some Sorta Blue," and "Cuch Cuch." This band knows when to spark it up, and when to lay back, and Levy proved a long time ago that he was a solid bandleader who got fine performances from his sidemen. Recommended. ~Thom Jurek

Finding My Way

---

Ron Levy's Wild Kingdom - After Midnight Grooves

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2004
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:58
Size: 126,2 MB
Art: Front

( 8:37)  1. After Midnight Groove
( 7:40)  2. Groovin' Wichu
( 7:55)  3. Just The Way It Went
( 5:55)  4. Like Back In The Day
( 6:12)  5. Slinky
( 8:09)  6. Keepin' Up The Love
(10:28)  7. Back At The Levshack

As the name promises, After Midnight Grooves brings the listener to the slinky, mysterious side of night those wee hours turning to dawn, when people shuffle their way home to an empty apartment. Groovin’ Wichu picks up tempo as Levy shows out on the B-3 with a funky groove, accompanied by an upbeat percussion and Melvin Sparks getting some good licks on guitar. Karl Denson’s smooth sax takes Just The Way It Went, into a sexy realm as he squeezes those peak notes to the max. Ron Levy provides an extra dimension on strings and vibes. Another taste of funky soul beat. Sparks does some fancy fretting, providing a spirited run across the strings. 

Jeff Lockhart takes over on guitar during Like Back In The Day and Keepin’ Up the Love, while Levy plays all the right notes on his B-3, extending himself to the inth. Hot piano rolls backed with vibes and a smooth drum beat, interspersed with a rockin’ organ, make Slinky a cool, funky tune. Getting’ down, having a real good time is what Slinky is all about. Back At The Levshackleads with Adrome ‘Acidman’ Machine blowing a soft, clean trumpet until Levy steps in with a smooth keyboard, doing a few riffs before he gets down on piano. From there, Levshack keeps it on the down-low, fine tuned and oh, so groovy with an extended play, keeping the mood flowing. http://www.jazzreview.com/cd-reviews/soul-/-funk-jazz-cd-reviews/after-midnight-grooves-by-ron-levy-s-wild-kingdom.html

Personnel: Ron Levy - composer, producer, organ, piano, electric pianos, vibes, strings, basses, clavinet, arranging & programming;  Melvin Sparks - guitar on Groovin, After Midnight, & Just The Way;  Karl Denson - alto, tenor sax & flute;  Jeff Lockhart - guitar on Like Back In The Day & Keepin’ Up The Love;  Russ Lawton - percussion, drums, tambourine;  Yahuba Garcia - congas, timbales Adrome ‘Acidman’;  MacHine - drums, percussion & trumpet;  Arkady Beletsky – cello;  Special guest - ‘Sax’ Gordon Beadle - baritone sax on After Midnight.

After Midnight Grooves

---

Ron Levy's Wild Kingdom - Mo' Jazzy Grooves

Size: 161,5 MB
Time: 69:43
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2012
Styles: Jazz: Hammond Organ
Art: Front

01. Some Sorta Blue ( 7:00)
02. After Midnight Grooves ( 8:37)
03. Indian Summer Waltz ( 5:47)
04. The Wes Side ( 5:51)
05. Big Fine Lil' Lass ( 6:21)
06. Love Retoined ( 4:46)
07. Long Time Ago ( 6:41)
08. Green Eye Soul ( 7:41)
09. A.J. Bustah ( 6:27)
10. Back At The Levshack (10:28)

This album is part of a four part series showcasing Ron Levy as a composer and master musician. It is an anthology drawn from the various recordings Mr. Levy produced, arranged and played his signature sound on piano, electric piano, vibes, guitar and Hammond organ. There are even a couple of his Blues inspired vocals!

Historically over the last twenty years, Ron has blended many different styles and genres into his own unique musical gumbo within each of his critically acclaimed and popular recordings. Enough so, he has now been able to assemble four separate full length albums comprised in each genre of grooves.

These album titles aptly describe each particular mood and vibe contained in each of them: “Mo’ JAZZY Grooves” - “FUNKY Soul Grooves” - “Mo’ BLUES & Grooves” and “LATIN-a-licious Grooves”.

This newest collection is in addition to his three previously released anthologies: Ron Levy’s Wild Kingdom - “Best Grooves and Jams” - “Jazz-a-licious Grooves” and “Best of RLWK”. All distributed by CdBaby and on his Facebook fan page music store.

As usual, Levy has always surrounded himself with many of the most talented musicians in the world throughout his long and celebrated career. They all have interpreted his compositions with soulful empathy, adding their own unique artistic creative contributions and styles to help fulfill Ron’s vision of his original compositions and are featured throughout all four albums.

Included in this collection are: Karl Denson, Melvin Sparks, The Memphis Horns, Idris Muhammad, James Gadson, David T. Walker, Stanley Banks, Jeff Lockhart, Crispin Cioe, ‘Sax’ Gordon, Albert Collins, Tutu Jones, Johnnie Bassett, Preston Shannon, Smokey Wilson, Bobby Forte, Jim Spake and Scott Thompson, Anson Funderburg and Sam Myers, Kim Wilson, Jimmie Vaughan, Roomful of Blues, Lowell Fulson, Larry Davis and Ronnie Earl.

These songs as well as many of these personalities (and many more) are further explained and candidly revealed in Ron’s web-book, “Tales of a Road Dog” available on his website. Look up Ron Levy / Levtron - online. We hope you enjoy these selections and include them in your regular rotation and consider them among your favorites. So stay tuned, there’s much more to come. Enjoy!

Mo' Jazzy Grooves

---

Ron Levy's Wild Kingdom - Greaze Is What's Good

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 63:29
Size: 145.3 MB
Styles: Organ blues-jazz
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[5:01] 1. Can I Change My Mind
[6:19] 2. Greaze Is What's Good
[5:13] 3. One People
[5:29] 4. Mr. Mr. Blasta From The Past'da
[5:23] 5. What D'freak
[6:21] 6. Big Fine Lil' Lass
[5:21] 7. What's Going On
[6:41] 8. Long Time Ago
[6:06] 9. In Between / The King
[6:49] 10. J-J-Jazz It Up
[4:39] 11. Gangsta's To Blame

On Greaze Is What's Good, Ron Levy is joined by trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, guitarists Melvin Sparks and David T. Walker, drummer Idris Muhammad, and trombonist Steve Turre, plus Memphis blues guitarist Preston Shannon, for a solid set of grooving, bluesy soul-jazz. ~ Steve Huey

Ron Levy (Fender Rhodes piano); Michelle Wilson, Ray Greene (vocals); Darby Hicks, Jr. (guitar, Fender Rhodes piano); David T. Walker, Melvin Sparks, Preston Shannon (guitar); Steve Turre (conch shell, trombone); Crispin Cioe (soprano saxophone, alto saxophone); Jim Spake (tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Gordon "Sax" Beadle (tenor saxophone); Freddie Hubbard, Scott Thompson (trumpet); William F. Zimmerman (piano); Greg Morrow (drums, percussion); Idris Muhammad, James Gadson (drums); Ralph Dorsey (congas); Carol Steele (percussion).

Recording information: Crosstown Recorders, Memphis, TN; Sunnyside Studio, South Central Los Angeles; The Magic Shop, New York, NY; Van Gelder Studio, Englewood, NJ.

Greaze Is What's Good

---