I was literally born into the music scene being the only product of two professional Jazz muscians. I have had music in my blood my entire life.

My main interest though has always been Rock music. My main influences are, Billy Squier, AC/DC, Def-Leppard, Sammy Hagar and so on.

After speding the better part of 8 years in bands, I recently went it alone and cut my own album. Writing all the songs and playing the instruments myself. It seems lately that musicians want to play covers all the time or write original songs that sound too much like other bands. I wanted to see if I could change things up a bit and lay down some straight forward Rock.

BIO

Jake Cravotta (using the assumed band name "Level-Down") is from Medina NY, a small town between Rochester and Buffalo. The main focus is more of a straightforward Rock-N-Roll sound that will get your feet tapping and fingers snapping.

At this moment Level-Down consists of only one artist/musician: Jake Cravotta, who is the product of two professional Jazz musicians. My mother “Kathy Dodge” was the pianist & singer of “The Kathy Dodge Trio”. My father was the drummer & manager of the band. During the mid 70’s and early 80’s they toured the east coast as well as some of the mid-west playing their music in hotels, clubs and restaurants. I was practically born on the road, my mother and father stopped touring just long enough to give birth to me. So it came as no surprise when I started picking out and playing songs on the piano by ear around the age of four, as well as sitting in on my father’s drum set trying to jam out some Rock beats.

I started my first band “Rooster” in 1995, like most bands starting out; we covered AC/DC, Sammy Hagar, Judas Priest... the usual. But I always hoped to be able to stand on our own playing original songs. We spent the better part of two years playing small clubs & bars primarily as a cover band while sneaking in a couple of original songs here and there.

After realizing that “Rooster” would never be anything more than a cover band, I decided it was time to bid farewell to that group to pursue a spot with an all original band (which I will not name) that had lost their guitarist. I ended up securing a spot in the lineup as the lead (and only) guitarist. Which was a stretch for me, I have always been all about a two guitar band. So I spent 3 months learning their (VERY complicated) songs while their manager lined up a number of shows. We were 24 hours away from playing our first show together when the singer decided to quit, consequently breaking up the band, since it was his project.

Needless to say, I was left with a bad taste for music and decided to put music away indefinitely out of pure frustration. In early ’99 (about 6 months later) I purchased a small 4 track recorder & drum set and put down a couple of songs I had rolling around in my head. I was toying with the idea of attempting to put another band together which is when the name “Level-Down” came into existence… the name being a small tribute to my parents (considering myself a rather large “Level-Down” from them). I recorded a couple of my songs but felt I was still not ready to pursue another band. So once again I put music away, this time for 5 years. I feel that the time away did me good. I got hungry and excited about music again. I invested in some decent recording equipment, wrote a bunch of new material and went to work. Handling all the instruments and vocals myself. Ending up with an album that really took me by surprise.

Even though a few people told me to stick my name on the cover of the CD, I chose to stay with "Level-Down." I did this for two reasons. The first reason is for my parents as I mentioned above. They have since passed away & I want nothing more than to carry on their legacy. The second reason... I hope to put a band together again. I feel that going out there as a band using a band name would only be appropriate. Making & playing music as a whole is the most important thing to me.

So with that, Level-Down (Jake Cravotta) has just recorded the debut CD titled “Inside My Soul”. Containing 7 tracks that push Rock-N-Roll directly into your face. From the wall shaking anthem of “Good Booze & Bad Girls” to the slightly mellower tone of “The Girl.” I have waited a long time to record this album, and finally got the chance to do it. Now I just hope that people will take to it and enjoy listening to the music that I so much enjoy making.