The Amazing Yosef Gutman Levitt

The Amazing Yosef Gutman Levitt

Author: Easy Jazz FM October 27, 2024 Duration: 1:03:12

He desperately wanted to be a jazz artist, moving to New York City. But bass guitarist Yosef Gutman Levitt (originally from South Africa) found that success doesn't come easily. To support himself, Yosef had to work in restaurants. He did other odd jobs as well - all the while, performing in local venues. Still, real success eluded him. He took a break to reflect on his approach to music, then landed a job as a producer on the Oprah Winfrey show. He also became very good at software programming, creating his own tech company. It was in 2009 that Yosef left the US to live with his family in Israel. In 2014, the giant website company "GoDaddy" purchased his tech firm. It wasn't until just a few years ago, in 2018, that Yosef went back to his first love of music. This time, he worked on a unique approach - combining hasidic melodies with jazz, latin, classical and Middle Eastern influences. And bang - success! Yosef Gutman Levitt, through ingenuity and determination, rose to prominence in the music world. In this interview with host Stefan Zaichkowski, Yosef admits that for years, he was a "lousy musician" but adds, that today, that has become an advantage because he can more easily spot weaknesses. Hear Yosef's music at 54:40.


Produced by the team behind the popular soft jazz internet radio station, Easy Jazz Spotlight brings the microphone into the room with the people who shape the sound. This isn't a lecture or a history lesson, though you'll certainly pick up plenty of that along the way. Instead, each episode unfolds as a genuine conversation with a working musician, a thoughtful composer, or a historian who connects the dots. We get into the craft behind the chords and the stories behind the standards, but we also explore why this particular form of expression feels so necessary now. The discussions naturally circle back to jazz's unique role in our often chaotic world-how its improvisational heart and collaborative spirit can offer a different kind of logic, and even a sense of calm and well-being, for those who listen closely. Tune in to hear artists explain their process, share personal inspirations, and reflect on what the genre means to them and to us. You'll come away from this podcast with a deeper appreciation not just for the music itself, but for the quiet resilience and creative joy it represents. Easy Jazz FM created this series to extend the feeling of their radio channel, offering a more intimate, voice-driven companion where the focus is on the creators and the thoughtful space their work inhabits.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Easy Jazz Spotlight
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