Jeremy Ledbetter Trio Defies 'Gravity' with Heavy New Album

Ledbetter, joined by Rich Brown on electric bass and Larnell Lewis on drums, has crafted a set of original, genre-defying compositions spanning jazz, rock, funk, and Latin rhythms. The album title, Gravity, speaks to the invisible force connecting the three musicians, creating a sound that's both grounded and otherworldly.

"We want to take the listener to a different place, take them on a journey with us," Ledbetter explains. "I want to put pictures in listeners' heads; you could almost call them viewers instead of listeners." This cinematic approach to music-making is evident from the album's opening track, "Flight," which bursts out of the gate with intense rhythms and technical chops.

The trio creates a fluid, energized sound that's perfectly suited to Ledbetter's compositions. This reflects Ledbetter's diverse musical background, which includes extensive study and performance in the Caribbean and Latin America. Tracks like "Song of the River," featuring guest percussionists and field recordings from the Venezuelan Amazon, and "Port of Spain," an homage to Trinidad's Carnival, demonstrate this global influence.

Ledbetter's work as a producer and musical director for artists across the globe (including a 20-year stint with Trinidadian calypso icon David Rudder) has honed his ability to blend diverse musical traditions into a cohesive, compelling whole. His journey from classical pianist to jazz performer to world music explorer is also evident throughout.

As Toronto Music Report put it, "this is no ordinary trio by any stretch of the imagination."

Gravity is available on CD, LP and digitally on the artist's website.