Lou Levy: Rescued from oblivion

The Lou Levy Trio

Jazz In Hollywood Series

32 years after the fact, listening to this album is a double experience. To explain, follow my thoughts. I'm listening to an album that I forgot was ever made, yet I remember everything as it's played back to me. Now put yourself in my place. As I listen I'm now 58 years old. If this album were to be done again, it would be very similar and yet very different. The reason for the difference would be basically playing and living another 33 years. But that's what it's all about.

As I listen to the final track, the youthful enthusiasm makes me smile. And knowing that enthusiasm is still there makes me happy. Very happy.

After all, jazz musicians never grow old. They're just a big wonderful bunch of grown-up children. *Lou Levy (November 29, 1986)* 

During the period in 1948 that I was playing with Woody Herman's "Four Brothers" band, perhaps my most fervent wish after Fred Otis, the pianist, left was to get this extremely talented "kid" from Chicago on the band. It did happen but not until I had left to return to some money-making jobs in Hollywood. On a 1949 trip to Hollywood, when Oscar Pettiford was playing with the band, I got a chance to substitute a couple of nights when Lou was there, and it was clear I was right.

My next experience with Lou was in the mid-fifties — he was actually out of music, working as some sort of executive in the publishing business. On trips to L.A. he saw most of his old friends doing pretty well playing — responded to my invitations to come and play with us — made the Virgil Gonsalves record for me and followed with the Trio. Very shortly thereafter, publishing lost a promising young executive and the World was blessed by the return of one of its finest pianists. *Harry Babasin (October 28, 1987)*

This Nocturne album represent the return of Lou Levy to the jazz scene after three years absence. Since his profesional debut with George Auld in 1947, he accompanied Sarah vaughan, and toured Scandinavia with Chubby Jackson at the end of 1947. Later he worked with several bands and groups -- Boyd Raeburn, Woody Herman, '49-'50; Louie Ballson-Terry Gibbs Sextet, '50; Tommy Dorsey, George Auld again and Flip Philips all in 1951, after which he settled in Minneapolis working as an advertising salesman for a dental survey publication.

In spring 1954 Lou traveled to Los Angeles and met his old friend Harry Babasin who invited him to record in his own Nocturne label. Lou made two records dates, one with Virgil Gonsalves and the other this trio session, which unfortunately remained unisseud until now.

At the time the record was announced as an imminent reléase on Nocturne, but the company ceased its activities just before the record could come out. At last this album has been rescued from oblivion and appears now its original number, NLP-10.

Backing Lou Levy, are two regular members of the Nocturne label, Larry Bunker drums, and the company's founder, the venerable Harry Babasin on bass.

Now we can savour the first album of Lou Levy as leader. It was almost twenty five years ago. *Jordi Pujol (liner notes, 1988)*

1 - The Gentleman Is A Dope

(Rodgers, Hart)

2 -Serenade In Blue

(Harry Warren, Marck Gordon)

3 - Woody'n You

(Gillespie)

4 - Without You

(Dave Stamper, Gene Buck)

5 - All The Things You Are

(Kern, Hammerstein II)

6 - Tiny's Other Blues

(Lou Levy, Tiny Kahn)

7 - Like Someone In Love

(Burke, Van Heusen)

8 - Bloo Denim

(Lou Levy)

Lou Levy (piano), Harry Babasin (bass), Larry Bunker (drums).

Recorded at United Western Recorders, Los Angeles, California, September 23, 1954