The organic nature of Levon Helm

Just four songs into Levon Helm's 140-minute performance at a half-capacity Chicago Theatre, the legendary singer-drummer, best known for his work with The Band, ceded the microphone to keyboardist Brian Mitchell for a woozy, New Orleans-style waltz through Bob Dylan's "Simple Twist of Fate." What followed was a master class in drumming. Eyes closed, Helm felt out each crevasse in the music, driving the beat where necessary and innately pulling back when the tune needed space to breathe. There w...

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