Tony Levin-Waters Of Eden
Narada
Tony Levin has recorded with everyone except maybe Kathy Lee! He has been Peter Gabriel's bassist since the very beginning, he's played with Ringo and later on John Lennon's last lp double fantasy, he reinvented the bass with King Crimson and quite simply he is a God to many. Guitar-god cliché aside this guy really does deserves a membership next to greats like Stanley Clarke, John Patitucci and the late Jaco Pastorius. With 'Waters of Eden' Levin closes the gap between his differerent musical personalities. There are the pulsating rhythms from the Gabriel years on the opening track 'Bone & Flesh' which also features other Gabriel alumni like Synth Wiz Larry Fast and the 'tribal drums from hell' master Jerry Marotta. His quietly understated bass sophistication shines on the Jazzy 'Icarus' with a haunting spirit reminiscent of his work with Herbie Mann and Chuck Mangione. 'Gecko Walk' has that 'get out of my way I'm coming through' inspiration sounding like some super heroes' anthem. There's also a lot of New Age on Waters of Eden 'Belle' a sweet melodic hallucination begs you to relax and take a load off. Levin goes for the hills and valleys approach on this CD going from rapturous thunders tunes to atmospheric little quite numbers and the pace seems to work. The only thing missing on this one is Peter Gabriel, I have to admit a lot of Levin's more aggressive pieces may not feature Pete but they show his spirit is well entrenched in Levin's psyche. You don't have declare Tony Levin a patron Saint to enjoy 'Waters of Eden" but chances are you will after a few listens.