Reviewed by Tom Mott
Released: 1980 Sea Level Ball Room Genre: Brecker Brothers Blues Brunch Rating: 3.1 out of 5 Sea Level is a jazz-influenced Allman Brothers spinoff. Their name is a pun on "C. Leavell"--Chuck Leavell--who founded the band with fellow Allmans Jaimoe and Lamar Williams along with Jimmy Nalls. Jaimoe's gone by this album, replaced by Joe English of Wings. Randall Bramblett is here too, no relation to the Bonnie and Delaney Bramletts. Chuck Leavell contributed wonderful piano to The Allman Brothers' "Brother and Sisters" after Duane died and has helped turn the Rolling Stones into a touring powerhouse these past forty (FORTY!!!) years, since becoming their musical director in 1982. How does his own band fare? "Jazz-influenced" doesn't mean peak Allmans veering into expansive, challening Coltrane territory. It's more like post-peak Allman Brothers (without either Allman or Dickey or Jaimoe or Butch) veering into smooth Spyro Gyra territory. Jammy, smooth latin-tinged bluesness. I can imagine Steve Miller piloting his fishing boat up to the pier for a guest solo on one number, or audience member Chick Corea getting a shout out and a smattering of polite applause. It's all very competent.
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