Short Reviews [Kevin Kastning & Laszlo Gardony - 2023 - "Levitation II"]

On 20th August 2021, Kevin Kastning (36-string Double Contraguitar) and internationally acclaimed Boston-based jazz pianist and composer Laszlo Gardony (Professor of Piano at Berklee College of Music and also teacher at Harvard University’s Jazz Combo Initiative) entered a studio to undertake some musical adventures. It was the first time they had played together, although they had studied each other’s work, and was the first time Kevin had paired the double contraguitar with a piano, but very quickly they realised they had each found a kindred spirit and were able to bounce ideas off each other. One album has already been released featuring recordings from that day, ‘Levitation I’, and now we have the second, again with no overdubs whatsoever. Due to the improvised and experimental nature of his music, I always find the full joy and beauty of Kevin’s albums only let themselves be known after repeated plays, and there is certainly a great deal in here to be discovered. Both musicians are happy to take the lead, yet neither of them really sits back, and there are runs of play (such as near the beginning of “Levitation Opus 8”) which are highly joined, and it is incredible to think none of this was rehearsed or scored and that the two of them are literally working and bouncing off each other. The use of a guitar with so many strings allow Kevin to provide some thumping deep bass sounds as well as more 12-string moments, while Laszlo also uses the full length of the keyboards, driving deep into the left hand or providing rippling moments with the right. This is experimental music which can be somewhat difficult to listen to for those coming across this style for the first time, yet I found this (as I did with the first album) to be incredibly enjoyable, with a huge range of sonics at play and interactions that allow both musicians to really shine. The dynamics are wonderful, and the use of space second to none, the result being yet another release by Kevin which is well worthy of discovery.