Can accessible music be intelligent?  And intelligent music passionate?  Adam Levin tries to answer those questions with his music.  Music that classical musicians have called jazz.  And jazz musicians have called rock.  And rock musicians?  They've called it classical.  With some pop, soul and funk sneaked in.

In fact, one could call Adam’s work the “liberal arts” of music.  One discipline is not enough.  But that's predictable coming from a background of classical piano training, pop music listening, and European ("progressive") art rock, or jazz- and classical-rock fusion, and the "psychedelic" movement that ushered it in.  Not to mention a family of professional musicians, with a classical pianist mother and jazz pianist father as his earliest influences.

Adam has written well over a hundred songs and instrumental pieces, with an array of instrumentation.  They run the gamut from pop to contemporary classical, sometimes combining contrasting elements.  His lyrics range from the state of the heart to the state of the world, with a sense of irony, poetry, spirituality, storytelling and humor.

He has composed, written lyrics, arranged, produced, played keyboards and/or sung for musical, performance and recording artists, theatre and ballet.  His songs have been accepted by major music publishing, performed at hundreds of events in North America and Europe, been featured on radio and television, and received critical acclaim.  His recordings have sold internationally.

He continues to record and perform in the New York tri-state area, including as a writer, arranger, keyboardist and vocalist.  He has written individually as well as with Wendy Boulding, David Brooks, Brenda Hettmansberger, Joe Lobell, Elena Rye Pellicciaro, Anne Ptasznik, Kathryn Sanders, Ann Smollon, Tomas Stark and Peter Stoller, nearly all of whom he has performed with.  Over the years, he has also performed with, written and/or arranged for such artists as Mark Abrahams, and/or, Annette U-Bet & The Future, Eva Atsalis,  Alan Benjamin, Bill Benninghoff, Blissful Behemoth, Nicole Charbani, Lance Cheney, Mathias (Little Bear) Clark, Mark Dann, John Eyre, Katie Franklin, Joe Gallant, Marci Geller, Annette Goldberg, Valerie Gomes, Gary Green, Paul Helou, Les July, Pat Kane, David Kleinman, Marc Landesberg, Magnetix, Jay Mark, Noiz, M.D. Poole, Quintessence, Glen Roethel, Marshal Rosenberg, Michael Scranton, Tonya Tobias, Ellen Weiss and Steve Wirts.

And who says you have to play renaissance music to be a “renaissance” musician?  Adam’s interests are also political, and as progressive as his musical tastes.  That interest is evident in some of his songs.  He has performed for benefit concerts and/or recordings for the homeless, world hunger, world peace, World Trade Center and hurricane disaster relief, and progressive politicians.  He has also worked for New York City's Department of Cultural Affairs, Mayor, and two Public Advocates, and the New York State Attorney General's Division of Public Advocacy.  Indeed, he was once mistaken for being “the songwriter for the Mayor”.  Kind of like the court jester.

He studied music composition, piano and musical theatre at Interlochen Center for the Arts/University of Michigan School of Music, Indiana University School of Music, and Berklee College of Music.  Fortunately, he succeeded in not allowing any of it to interfere with his musical education.  And somewhere along the way, he acquired a Bachelor of Arts degree from Adelphi University, where he studied English, writing and theatre.  He has been a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers; the National Academy of Popular Music (Songwriters Hall of Fame), the Long Island Composers Alliance (LICA), and the Global On-Reflection Giant Gathering (devoted to preserving and honoring the music of Gentle Giant and its musicians.)  He also serves on the board of directors of LICA and the American Chamber Ensemble and oversees the Rhoda Pinsley Levin Endowed Award for Excellence in Musical Performance at Hofstra University.  Despite his maverick nature, he has even received the occasional award.  Even when they didn't know how to categorize his music.

You’ll have to decide that for yourself.