Tracks like "For Freddie" and "180 Degrees" feature a ballroom chamber-pop veneer segueing into the flaring horns of "'F' It" displaying the showmanship of the big bands of yesteryear. The Latin swing vivaciousness of "Wired" moves with the festive merriment of a party band, while the smooth currents of "Rain" induce a period of quiet contemplation into the album. The supper club ambiences of "10-9-8-7" and "Without Struggle" are buffed by jangling horns which coast into the samba rhythm of "Avishai" reefed by swaying horns and traverse into a party bash of splashing drums and horns along "My Blues."

~Susan Frances, Yahoo! – Full Review…Click Here

 

Levinson is a trumpet guy out of Brooklyn, but one major advantage he’s got is that Freddie Hubbard’s Goin’ Up LP came out in 1960 – that sort of sound being as warmly addressed as this definitely counts for a lot. Levinson’s early career was spent in funk bands, later in small combos, so on the whole this album (his 2nd) makes a lot of sense.

Throwback bop on the title track and the obliviously reverent 70s burn of “For Freddie” isn’t the whole story at all; there’s a lot of Latin and funk vibe throughout. There’s always room for a pleasantly club-atmospheric collection of solid originals (!) by a damn good trumpeter who not only knows post-bop and all that came before, but obviously lives for it. You’ll be filing this with your oldschool-style favorites for sure.

~Eric Saeger, Skope Magazine – Grade A+

 

The Josh Levinson Sextet delivers a musical rush with a similar bracing emotive and physical force, utilizing the rational musical principles of manifest rapport. "Chancey Street" seems an excellent conduit and perfect medium  on whose tracks Josh Levinson may yet roll toward his goal.

~C.J. Bond, Jazz Music – Full Review…Click Here

 

The musicians here (Levinson on trumpet and flugelhorn, plus Brian Fishler on drums, Peter Brendler on bass, Kenny Shanker on tenor and soprano saxophones, Noah Bluess on trombone, Jeb Patton on piano, along with pianist Mike Eckroth who sits in on “180 Degrees”) are just superb, and with this album recorded and engineered by Peter Karl at his Brooklyn studio and the final recording mastered by Fred Kevorkian, you’re hearing album that honors its influences but also hopes to become an influence for all who choose to hear this. Highly recommended.

~ John Book, This is Books Music - Full Review…Click Here

 

Chauncey Street is hard charging post bop knocked out of the park by some of New York's finest. A well thought out ebb and flow of this release does include a few slower tunes. "Rain" is a beautiful ballad that has some deceptive twists and turns reminiscent of some Tom Harrell compositions. Eleven rock solid originals, six of the best musicians in New York and a swing that goes right to your very soul. Levinson's keen sense of melody and harmonic progression keep this ensemble on an incredibly entertaining and accessible level that others simply cannot match. A virtually flawless release with the Josh Levinson Sextet on point at all times!

~Brent Black, Critical Jazz - Full Review…Click Here

 

Left leaning New York jazz from the old school by a Brooklyn kid that knows how to play the funk out of his horn.  A heady statement by a crew that has clearly shown up to play, this is a solid date that mainstream groovers will take to heart.  Well done.

~Chris Spector, Midwest Record Recap Volume 35/Number 96

 

In Chauncey Street Brooklyn-based trumpeter/educator, Josh Levinson and his sextet return to the tight camaraderie, inventive soloing and captivating themes that characterized the Blue Note sound of the 1950s and '60s.

~ Hrayr Attarian, All About Jazz - Full Review Click Here

 

With a background in jazz and funk, trumpeter and New York native Josh Levinson displays vibrant energy on his self-published release Chauncey Street. The disc is comprised of eleven Levinson originals, influenced by the classic post-bop sounds of Art Blakey, Horace Silver and the like. Much like the famed Jazz Messengers sound, Levinson's sextet utilizes a front line of trumpet, saxophone and trombone backed by a piano, bass and drums rhythm section.  Levinson's tunes contain memorable themes with interesting changes, challenging the trumpeter's seasoned improvisational prowess. Saxophonist Kenny Shanker and trombonist Noah Bless, both featured prominently, deliver solos full of clever, swinging lines. The opening bounce of the title track sets the pace for a pleasing musical ride. Levinson really comes to life on the Afro-Cuban influenced "Wired," displaying a Freddie Hubbard kind of brashness—direct homage is eventually paid to Hubbard on the modal straight-eighth drive of "For Freddie." "Avishai," a tune inspired by bassist Avishai Cohen, is an ensemble highlight featuring tight interplay and an insatiable groove from drummer Brian Fishler.

~John Baron, The Jazz Word

 

The horns are prevalent on this 11-song jazz odyssey, which makes sense, since Josh plays trumpet & flugelhorn (he’s joined by Kenny Shanker on tenor/soprano sax, Noah Bless on trombone, Brian Fishler on d...rums, Jeb Patton (& Mike Eckroth) on piano & Peter Brendler on bass)… you’ll hear why I fell in love with his all-original compositions right away as you listen to the groove on the 5:43 “Wired“, or the funk-step cool of “Heat“. Josh played in a lot of bands where the focus was finger-poppin’ funk in his early days, and he learned those lessons well, as evidenced by my favorite cut on the CD, the fully funk-i-fied “My Blues“… you owe it to your ears (& your booty) to listen to all eleven tracks on headphones, at least the first time around. This is one of the best trumpet-based jazz bands I’ve heard (yet) in 2012. I give Josh & crew a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, as well as an “EQ” (energy quotient) rating of 4.98.

~Rotcod Zzaj, Improvijazzation Nation

 

The music in this CD is comprised of 11 original straight ahead jazz compositions with tinges of Latin and other types of music in it, performed by 6 wonderful NYC musicians.

~World Jazz News

 

Josh Levinson Sextet: Chauncey Street (2011 [2012], self-released): Trumpet player, from Brooklyn, not aware of him having any previous records, although he's probably been around a while (for one thing, he dates the title song to the 1990s). Straight ahead hard bop group, with Kenny Shanker on tenor (and soprano) sax, Noah Bless on trombone, Jeb Patton on piano, plus bass and drums. Beat has a funk influence and occasional Latin tinges, and the trombone helps. B+(*)

~Tom Hull, Jazz Prospecting – Village Voice Contributor for over 20 years