About Leib Levin

Levin, Leib & Piano Trio. From Nigun to Klezmer. Portland, Or.: CD Baby, 2006. 1 Compact Disc. "This is an exquisite collection of eight short cuts: four nigunim, interspersed with a version of "Bei mir bist du shein," a freilach, a klezmer dance piece, and a slightly longer "Dance of the reb­bitzen" by the late, respected composer George Perlman. The trio arrangements are ideal for the soulful, melodic nigunim as well as the more joyous freilachs. All of the playing is master­ful, especially the piano work of Yaron Gershovsky, the musical director of the Manhattan Transfer.... The violinist at the heart of this work, Leib Levin, shows tremendous understanding of Jew­ish music. His upper register is somewhat shrill but he gives the lower notes a magical warmth. There is no showiness here; the music takes center stage. The jazz arrangements achieve a perfect fusion, avoiding the awkwardness that so often accompanies at­tempts to inject jazz into Jewish music. ... The nigunim are played with a particular reverence and appreciation, and the violin substitutes well for the wordless voice. "Bei mir bist du shein" is the only piece that perhaps works better vocally. It is suitable for all Jewish libraries that are collecting recorded music." Beth Dwoskin, Proquest Information and Learning, Ann Arbor,MI