Lou Levy (pianist)

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Lou Levy (1928 – 2001) was a bop-based pianist who worked with many top jazz artists.

Louis A. Levy was born to Jewish parents in Chicago on January 23, 1928. He started playing piano when he was 12. His chief influences were Art Tatum and Bud Powell.

A professional at age 19, Levy played with Georgie Auld (1947 and later), Sarah Vaughan, Chubby Jackson (1947-1948), Boyd Raeburn, Woody Herman's Second Herd (1949-1950), Tommy Dorsey (1950) and Flip Phillips. Levy left music for a few years in the early fifties and then returned to gain a strong reputation as an accompanist to singers, working with Peggy Lee (1955-1973), Ella Fitzgerald (1957-1962), June Christy, Anita O'Day and Pinky Winters. Levy also played with Shorty Rogers, Stan Getz, Terry Gibbs, Benny Goodman, Supersax and most of the major West Coast players. Levy has recorded as a leader for Nocturne (1954), RCA, Jubilee, Philips, Interplay (1977), and Verve.

He died on January 23, 2001 in Dana Point, California.

[edit] Discography

• Jazz in Four Colors, 2004
• Solo Scene, 2004
• Music from the Movies, 1998
• Jazz in Hollywood, 1997
• Impromptu, 1993
• Lunacy, 1993
• Ella in Hollywood (Ella Fitzgerald), 1961
• Ella Returns to Berlin (Ella Fitzgerald), 1961
• Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie! (Ella Fitzgerald), 1961
• Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Songbook (Ella Fitzgerald), 1959
• Get Happy! (Ella Fitzgerald), 1959
• Ella in Rome: The Birthday Concert (Ella Fitzgerald), 1958
• Ella Swings Lightly (Ella Fitzgerald), 1958
• Piano Playhouse, 1957
• Black Coffee (Peggy Lee), 1956
• A Most Musical Fella, 1956

[edit] External Sites

• 1981 Interview with Lou Levy
• Internet Movie Database entry for Lou Levy
• Recordings at amazon.com for Lou Levy
• Verve artist page for Lou Levy