Who Is Behind Levitation Music?

Splitting his time between NYC & the SF Bay Area, Jesse Levit is a saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist whose musical foundation is in jazz, with influences spanning funk, R&B, soul, hip hop, and pop. Whether performing with a big band, leading a funk set on keys and sax with FX, or adding textures on the EWI, he brings the same musicality, groove, and attention to detail to every performance. Jesse has performed throughout the United States and internationally with artists across a wide range of styles.

While Jesse stays busy leading his own projects, he is equally at home as a first-call sideman for a wide range of ensembles. His ability to jump between genres and technical demands has made him a staple in the West Coast and NYC scenes, contributing saxophone, EWI, and keyboards to various groups. This versatility has led to performances alongside legends like Yo-Yo Ma, Angélique Kidjo, Roy McCurdy, Jane Monheit, Jim McNeely, Diane Witherspoon, Wynton Marsalis, Tommy Igoe, Benny Green, and Wycliffe Gordon.

As a featured Drake Mouthpieces Artist and D'Addario Artist, Jesse relies on the Drake NY Jazz Alto and D'Addario products to get the resonance and grit the music calls for. That dedication to tone hasn't gone unnoticed; his work has been featured and reposted by industry heavyweights such as the official Charlie Parker and John Coltrane Instagram pages, Questlove, Nicholas Payton, and Jason Marsalis.

While the saxophone is his primary voice, Jesse regularly incorporates the EWI (Electronic Wind Instrument), sax FX pedals, and keyboards into his sessions, adding an additional color and modern edge to live shows without losing the human element of improvisation.

When he isn't backing up other artists, Jesse co-leads a handful of creative endeavors:

• The Levit-Behrman Collective: A heavy-hitting collaboration focused on original modern jazz compositions and collective improvisation.
• Wampa: A creative passion project that reimagines the iconic themes of the Star Wars universe through a jazz, rock, and funk lens.
• Oaklandish: A deep dive into jazz classics through the lens of hip-hop and soul traditions of Oakland.
• The Klipptones: A premier high-end ensemble known for bringing sophisticated live music to exclusive events and soirees throughout Northern California.

With an M.M. from the Manhattan School of Music, Jesse’s career has taken him from touring Japan with the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra to performing in NYC clubs like Zinc Bar, Smalls, Smoke, Mezzrow, & Dizzy's, and holding down local residencies at SF Bay Area staples like Mr. Tipple’s, SFJAZZ, Bird & Beckett, and The Sound Room, Whether leading his own projects or contributing as a sideman, Jesse approaches every performance with the same focus: listening, supporting the music, and making every note count.