Adam Levy

For the actor, see Adam Levy (actor).
Adam Levy
Guitarist Adam Levy
Guitarist Adam Levy
Background information
Born (1966-11-27) November 27, 1966 (age 57)
Encino, California, U.S.
GenresJazz, pop, rock
Occupation(s)Musician, singer, songwriter
Instrument(s)Guitar, vocals
Years active1990–present
LabelsLost Wax
Websitewww.adamlevy.com

Adam Levy is a jazz guitarist who was a member of Norah Jones's band.

Career

Levy was born in Encino, California. Two of his uncles and one cousin played guitar, and his mother briefly took lessons. His grandfather, George Wyle, worked for The Andy Williams Show and The Flip Wilson Show on television as music director. As a teenager, Levy was a member of a local big band. After he graduated from high school, he studied at the Dick Grove School of Music, where his teachers included Ted Greene, Adam Levine and Jimmy Wyble.[1]

He moved to San Francisco in 1990 and worked as a studio musician, appearing on a Tracy Chapman album in the mid 1990s. At the end of the decade, he was a member of the group Killer Joey with drummer Joey Baron, guitarist Steve Cardenas, and bassist Tony Scherr. Levy then moved to New York City, where he met Norah Jones and was a member of her band at the beginning of her career through her bestselling albums and world tours. He has also played with Rosanne Cash, Chris Difford, Amos Lee, and Lisa Loeb. He leads a trio called the Mint Imperials. He plays in a duo with session guitarist Rich Hinman. [1]

Since 2015, Levy has been the Chair of the Guitar Performance department at Los Angeles College of Music.[2]

Discography

As leader

  • Live at Avalaon & the Graves (Evander Music, 2000)
  • Buttermilk Channel (Lost Wax Music, 2001)
  • Get Your Glow On (Lost Wax, 2003)
  • Loose Rhymes (Lost Wax, 2006)
  • Washing Day (Lost Wax, 2007)
  • The Heart Collector (Lost Wax, 2011)

As sideman

With Norah Jones

With others

Bibliography

  • Jazz Guitar Sight-Reading (Alfred Music, 1997)
  • Play the Right Stuff – Creating Great Guitar Parts, (Alfred Music, 2006), DVD & online course
  • 50 Low Down Rhythms You Must Know, (Truefire, 2013), DVD & online course
  • Rhythm Makeover with Adam Levy, (Truefire, 2014), DVD & online course
  • Essentials: Slow Burn Soloing – Introduction (Truefire, 2015), DVD & online course
  • Guitar Tips YouTube series

References

  1. ^ a b Yanow, Scott (2013). The Great Jazz Guitarists. San Francisco: Backbeat. p. 120. ISBN 978-1-61713-023-6.
  2. ^ "Guitar Faculty Bios – LACM". www.lacm.edu. Retrieved 19 August 2017.