Hello everyone Kirk here residing safely in the late summer of 2024 with

another older episode for you all this one about a more current artist than I often cover on the show as singer and songwriter who I still think doesn't get quite enough attention, especially state side.

That is, of course, New Zealand's own Kimbra, whose song Cameo Lover got its own

strong songs episode back in 2021. Before we get into that episode, though, I have another

music recommendation for you all, actually kind of a pair of music

recommendations, pianist and harmonica player Howard Levy is a legend in certain circles.

I first heard him back when I was in high school getting into Bela Fleck in the flex tones

as Levy was in the regular rotation with that band and he actually played harmonica on the live

version of Sinister Minister that won them a Grammy back in the 90s.

Levy came to Portland with his Quartet based out of Chicago

and my old friend Benjamin Court known to longtime listeners as the

trumpet player on both Strong Songs's theme songs was himself a long time

fixture of the Chicago music scene. He knew everybody in the band and he invited me to come out to the show to see them.

It was a great show. Levy is of course an incredible musician. He's a great composer as well.

But the thing that actually knocked me out was his guitarist, Chris Seabold.

Seabold is actually a good friend of Benjamin's and we sat right in the front row with a great view of his playing and,

wow, I have seen people play guitar like that before like I went to school with a lot of great guitar players I know some really good guitar players but it had been a while for me just watching that kind of extremely smooth wildly inventive mix of

styles and techniques his playing is kind of reminiscent of Alan Holdsworth and

Wayne Krantz like he's on that level but like anyone that level, he has his own sound and his own style.

And it had been a while since I'd seen someone play the instrument like that.

It was a real pleasure to watch him do his thing.

You're actually hearing a track from Seabold's fusion band Kick The Cat. This is a tune called Chip Monkey.

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