But first EP available now
Hello, World!
Bio
Levi Gillis is a saxophonist/composer/curator and sometimes multi-instrumentalist working at the intersection of Jazz, contemporary classical music and folk traditions. His music is mercurial, oscillating between popular and experimental worlds. At its core is the searching ear, seeking out frequencies and forms that resonate deeply in both mind and body. Critics have called his music “fascinating” and full of “focused intensity” (KNKX) “summoning soulful, ear-worming melodies” (Seattle CityArts Magazine).
His most recent project, “But First” establishes his voice in song-craft and as a singer. Levi performed, recorded and mixed all instruments on the four-song EP and the result is a highly personal manifestation of his musical imagination.
He has toured the US extensively with his own groups Hunter Gather, The Sky Is a Suitcase and internationally with The Dip. He has worked closely with Wayne Horvitz and Robin Holcomb. As a curator, Levi led a longstanding partnership between the Seattle-based record label Table & Chairs and Vermillion Art Gallery and Bar, committed to giving a voice to creative sound artists from diverse backgrounds.
In 2019, Levi was awarded the Artist Trust “GAP” grant to compose new works for saxophone. He holds a B.M. from the University of Washington and an M.F.A. from the California Institute of the Arts.
projects
Hunter Gather
avant-jazz-post-rock
The Sky Is A Suitcase
free-family-melody-jazz
Sequoia Ensemble
orchestral-chamber-earth-jazz
The Dip
vintage-groove-soul-crunch
Press
FOR HUNTER GATHER:
“A modular, postmodern approach that echoes Ornette Coleman’s...These are inquisitive musicians who don’t hew to preconceptions of what jazz should sound like.”
“[Hunter Gather doesn’t] perform these tunes so much as exhale them.”
“[Hunter Gather’s] collaborative contribution approach produces a focused intensity. Each song has the dreamy quality of hearing a strange fairy tale for the first time... [a] fascinating, fresh album.”
“Getting to Know You is a collection of absorbing chansons and wind-charm fascinations, evoking the verse-chorus storytelling of the best singer-songwriters...Like a trip on Seattle’s clamoring roadways, Getting to Know You takes the listener on a journey filled with heavy traffic, hard-won successes, and unexpected vistas of natural beauty.”
“Gillis and his band Hunter Gather summon soulful, ear-worming melodies, made richer and more dynamic as each individual player shares with the rest of the group.”
“The second song, ‘Sing’ showed what Hunter Gather was capable of, filling the room with atmospheric sound. The impressive set certainly left the crowd wanting more.”
For The Sky Is A Suitcase:
“In their self-titled release, The Sky Is A Suitcase showcases a style that brings back rebellion to jazz - it surprises, excites, and inspires... These songs are personal, and there is a palpable sense of reflection coming from each member in every arrangement on the album. Each track mimics a story, fading in and out of emotions, and there is an intense solidarity within these players. Once you’ve entered this aural dream state, you’ll never want to leave.”
For Sequoia Ensemble:
“2014 NW ACOUSTIC JAZZ ENSEMBLE OF THE YEAR”
“There’s very little conventional structure to this music. There’s no relying on a return to a previously traveled spot and the shape of a song may not become apparent even after it’s reached its conclusion. The obligation of an ensemble who takes this approach is to make every moment interesting, which Sequoia Ensemble does with a remarkable consistency...Plenty of intrigue and amazement to be found here, an equation that results in an abundance of fun.”
“The writing is ambitious and the lines between improvisation and composition are delectably blurred... It’s a testament to Gillis that the disparate directions on Sequoia do indeed hold together as an album, albeit a challengingly varied one, thanks to the assured arrangements and the sensitive and dynamic ensemble work. Highly recommended.”
Email: levi.gillis@gmail.com (link below)
Socials below too!!