Fred Martin & the Levite Camp Some Bridges CD

Fred Martin, the L.A. based teacher, musician, and choir director who masterminded this riveting rock/blues/gospel all-star fusion project, loves to point out that Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey, the father of modern gospel, once upset some church people when he combined religious music with jazz and blues. Dorsey's long-ago trailblazing made the Levite Camp (named after the Biblical tribe of musician-priests) possible, inspiring a spirited labor of love that emotionally connects on numerous levels. The heart and soul of the collection is a lively choir rendition of Jackson Browne's classic title track, and the singer/songwriter's friendship with Martin led to his participation as a lead vocalist on his socially conscious songs "World in Motion" (which is doubled cleverly with a soaring choir singing Allen Toussaint's "Yes We Can Can") and the emotional ballad "Don't You Want to Be There." Martin also adds a potent extra verse to Browne's politically charged "Lives in the Balance," which stretches to seven minutes and includes powerful contributions by the L.A. based, Grammy winning alternative groove collective Ozomatli. Browne's name was no doubt helpful in marketing efforts, but other well-known names make equally vibrant contributions -- most notably Keb' Mo' (who trades lead vocals with the choir on a fusion of Robert Johnson's "Crossroads" and "Until I Found the Lord") and trumpeter "Hugh Masekela," whose haunting horn provides a moody vibe behind lyrics about listening to one's inner voice on "The Next Voice You Hear." The Levite Camp may be largely anonymous to this recording's audience, but two soloists deserve special mention -- Chavonne Morris and Alethea Mills. The project is the musical extension of Martin's Urban Entertainment Institute, an organization dedicated to teaching city youth about everything from musicianship to career management. ~ Jonathan Widran

Personnel: Fred Martin (piano); Nykol Burns (vocals, background vocals); Chavonne Morris (vocals); Raúl Pacheco (guitar); John Bilezikjian (oud); Neil Seigle (ney); Ulises Bella (saxophone); Wil-Dog Abers (bass instrument); Sheven Morris (drum); Justin "Niño" Porée (percussion); Creshinda Johnson, Loren Turner (background vocals); Jiro Yamaguchi.

JazzTimes (p.92) - "Guests include trumpeter Hugh Masekela and soulful vocalist Keb' Mo', who puts energy into a melding of blues and gospel..."