Tony Levin: The Groove Abides

Tony Levin needs no introduction. Most likely, you have heard Tony playing bass; you just didn’t know it.

I first met Tony in August of 2011 as a host of the Three of a Perfect Pair music camp at the Full Moon Resort. Over the years, we “happy campers,” which fellow host Adrian Belew dubbed us, have become part of a unique community. It’s hard to explain, but it’s like the family reunion you want to attend.

I also see it as part of my continuous musical education. These artists are world-class professional musicians with great road stories, but Tony, Adrian and Pat Mastelotto are so down-to-earth. Add Markus Reuter and Trey Gunn. along with Julie Slick and Johnnie Luca and you’ve got quite a heady mix of music. Every year I go, there is a valuable and often profound takeaway.

Since this interview, the BEAT Tour is a resounding success: selling out to highly enthusiastic crowds. I saw them in Cincinnati in October and they were stunning.

To cut to the chase, here’s the two-part interview I did with him on September 12, 2024. Enjoy!

Click here to listen to part 2 of the interview.