Comprising the creative vision of Mike Rogers and Gary Lefkowith, Le Sonic is a production team built on a foundation of musical creativity and modern technology.
The pair come from different directions, bringing two beginnings into Le Sonic. The first was Mike in high school, where he played drums in the elite NYC jazz programme, Talent Unlimited, and met jazz greats including Dizzy Gillespie, Wayne Shorter, Lenny White, Chick Correa, and Joanne Brackeen. The other was at Berklee College of Music, where Gary had “the best guitar lesson ever” from the legendary William G. Leavitt, who wrote Modern Method for Guitar, considered the Bible of guitar instruction.
Le Sonic’s latest release, ‘Any Moment’, features Bobby Banderrama (AKA Robert Lee), a founding member and lead guitarist of the legendary ’60s garage rock band, ? (Question Mark) & The Mysterians. They set the standard for all the bands of that genre who came after them in the 1970s. Their number 1 smash hit, ’96 Tears’, made it into Rolling Stone’s ‘500 Greatest Songs of All Time’. Bobby himself has also had a Top 30 Billboard Smooth Jazz Hit, with his recording of ‘Happy & Go Lucky’.
Bobby isn’t the only huge name on the track. Others include vocalist Dennis Collis, who’s worked with the likes of Roberta Flack, David Bowie, Billy Joel, James Ingram, Al Green, Rick Ocasek, George Benson, and Bob Dylan; additionally there’s Jim Hynes, who’s one of the most versatile and sought-after trumpet players in New York. No doubt you’ll have heard him play on many TV themes, including CBS This Morning, NBC Sunday Night Football, Masterpiece Theater, and the CBS Evening News. And then there’s Frank Rodriguez, another original member of ? & The Mysterians, and who was responsible for the signature keyboard part in ’96 Tears’.
The video for ‘Any Moment’ was inspired by Gary’s first-year ear training teacher at Berklee, Les Harris. Les had always said, “I wish jazz were played outside in the daylight, instead of just in the clubs at night, and without alcohol.” The video for ‘Any Moment’, therefore, is as simple as it gets, yet with an aura of sophistication. Directed and produced by Nigham Bhandahari, it’s been given a Felliniesque texture, and the entire video is shot in black and white with slow sweeping angles of a party that any music lover would enjoy. Young people sway and dance to the song. while the lights from the stage flood the room with white light, as silver pieces of confetti float down from the ceiling above. Last but not least, we are treated to shots of Robert Lee doing his thing, interspersed throughout the video.
Watch the video, and find out more about Le Sonic online on Facebook.
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