The Present Gift by The Joel Futterman/Ike Levin Duo

About The Artists

Joel Futterman known for his spirited, highly imaginative, and radical technique is a veteran pioneer into the frontiers of spontaneous, improvised music. He is considered one of the foremost inventive and adventurous artists shaping the creative, progressive music scene today. He has performed and recorded with an array of notable jazz innovators including Jimmy Lyons, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Joseph Jarman, Richard Davis, Al Fielder, and Hal Russell, as well as Edward "Kidd" Jordan with whom he has had a highly productive association in recent years. Futterman has over 30 recordings to his credit and performs regularly throughout North America and Europe.

Ike Levin is a Chicago reed player now residing in the San Francisco Bay area where he is active in the developing new music scene. His robust, muscular tenor tone can range from edgy and piercing to breathy and sensuous displays full command of his instrument. Levin's strong, free improvisational talents are rooted in a reverence and appreciation for the blues, bebop, and contemporary chamber music. He studied with the legendary jazz saxophonist Joe Daley and Fred Anderson, co-founder of the Chicago based Association for The Advancement of Creative Music (AACM). Ike has performed with such noted jazz artists including Ira Sullivan, Wilbur Campbell, Von Freeman, Ed Petersen, Yancy Taylor, and Robert Porter, as well as leading his own small ensembles.

CD Media Coverage:

"This duo delight their fans and give the listening audience a taste of the unusual..." Lee Prosser, Jazz Review

"Only one word can describe this CD - (phroggin') H O T! These 2 have a level of communication down that most players can only dream about." Those listeners who especially dig improvised musics that aren't the same notes over and over will dig th' creativity of this duo..." HIGHLY RECOMMENDED Dick Metcalf, Improvjazzation

"Levin and Futterman enjoy a discernible comfort zone via their often-emotive call and response type exchanges and adventurous fabrications. Moreover, this production sports extraordinary sonic characteristics, where every subtlety and nuance shines through in crystalline splendor." RECOMMENDED Glenn Astarita, All About Jazz

"These two are a good match: expressive performers comfortable with the genre and vocabulary of free improvisation, who rarely, if ever succumb to clichés. There is enough variety and space, not to mention, hard core bellowing, to make the CD an attractive listen, but in the end it is the raw, naked sound of a gutsy tenor and the slippery slopes of extraordinary fluid fingers that give it a special zing. 31/2 STARS. Steven A. Loewy, All Music Guide

"The listener is challenged by the intensity and breadth that these two artists bring to bear with their minimalist configuration. The result of color, passion, and occasional sweetness is a tribute to the art of "doing it in the now." Michael Handler, JazzWest Review

"Whereas most improvisational groups cling to the safety net of structure, and build their compositions around a formalized central figure, Futterman and Levin seem happy to fire and forget; their pieces are distinctly non-linear, non-repetitive journeys..." George Zahora, Splendid

"This CD representative of the free jazz genre features hard clusters and lots of free blowing, yet the duo is tightly attuned." Steve Koenig, All About Jazz

"Top flight aggressively creative music by two strong musicians." Jazz Times

Average Customer Review: