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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 18 พ.ย. 2024
- Walt Levinsky and the Great American Swing Band
As:Chuck Wilson, Mike Migliore / Ts:Frank Wess, Ted Nash / Bs:Sol Schlinger / Tp:Glenn Drewes, Randy Sandke, Spanky Davis, Bob Millikan / Tb:Joel Helleny, Eddie Bert, Paul Faulise / P:Marty Napoleon / B:Murray Wall / Ds:Butch Miles
Recorded at The Hotel Macklowe (Millennium Broadway Hotel New York)
Play List “Walt Levinsky 1992” th-cam.com/play/PLrPaVntmR59sAvUsa00F_tnnPoZJ27ddl.html
What a rockin piano break from Marty Napoleon on Roll Em !
There's some pretty top-shelf of the top-shelf NYC musicians sitting in this band. I got to see Walt and his band ("The Great American Swing Band") in midtown at Michael's Pub a few times back about 1989-90. They were there every Monday or Tuesday (I forget which), night for a while and he and the band were always exceptional for a band that changed from one week to the next. It was a matter of the order of the call-list and who was available to just came in on whatever night is was to read down some charts and play some good jazz. No fuss / just take care of business. That's what the pros do.
Thanks for that. Should have recognised Frank Wess at least.
There are one or two comments having a go at these live recordings. First, do remember that BG played these numbers night after night for weeks on end! Secondly, this was a pick up band with minimal rehearsal. Of course, the original is what we all rate but isn't it terrific to sit in front of a live swing band playing its heart out? BTW there are issues of Ellington recordings where his efforts on a bad night aren't too good. BG was probably the same! As this band settles in to a groove on Roll Em it really rocks!
love their solos
Good.......
What an amazing treat to see this! So fine! Such talented artists!
The pianist is Marty Napoleon
I hear BG......Ah memories.
Good one !
the trumpet solo reminds me of Harry Edison.
Ashamed.Jazz fan all my life and never heard of Walt Levinsky. Great band with fine soloists. Anyone tell me the pianist and rest of band. Only recognised Butch Miles and Randy Sanke.
@Butch 78 This is “Walt Levinsky and the Great American Swing Band”. As:Chuck Wilson, Mike Migliore / Ts:Frank Wess, Ted Nash / Bs:Sol Schlinger / Tp:Glenn Drewes, Randy Sandke, Spanky Davis, Bob Millikan / Tb:Joel Helleny, Eddie Bert, Paul Faulise / P:Marty Napoleon / B:Murray Wall / Ds:Butch Miles.
Thank you for leaving your comment. SwingCla from Tokyo Japan
Walt paid his dues as a young man as a sax player working in Benny Goodman's and Tommy Dorsey's bands of the mid-late 40s and 50s, and as a result of that he graduated into the top echelon of radio, television and recording studio work in NYC, where a number of players of his era settled into VERY well-paid freelance work for the last 30+ years of their working careers that also kept them at the top of their game. They knew as well as anybody that the idea of making a living playing for dancers or eking it out trying to play Jazz was crazy when so much top notch work was to be had for the taking. They still played plenty of gigs whenever they had free nights anyway. But to pass up making a few hundred thousand a year in the studios would have been stupid. Who needs fame when you're making as much money as you want in the anonymous world of studio work? By the 60s Walt was one of the important Contractors in NY responsible for staffing studio bands and orchestras of all kinds and he was also a very good arranger. So, playing gigs with some old friends with some younger giants sprinkled in, like in this video, - that was just the gravy doing what guys like him loved.