Trombone player, composer and arranger Rod Levitt (1929-2007) died last June. He made 4 records as conductor of his octet, which were seen as ‘collectors items’. Their quality and originality show in the refined timbre, the self-willed and often hilarious compositions and the excellent soloists.
1) CD, label Riverside
, no. OJCCD 1955-2(RS-9471).
CD title: ‘The Dynamic Sound Patterns Of The Rod Levitt Orchestra’. Performers: Rod Levitt, conductor/trombone/arrangements; Rolf Ericson, trumpet; Buzz Renn, alto saxophone/clarinet/flute; George Marge, tenor saxophone/clarinet/piccolo/tenor hobo; Gene Allen, baritone saxophone/bass clarinet; Sy Johnson, piano; John Beal, contrabass; Ronnie Bedford, drums.
Title track 1: ‘Holler’. Duration 09:07
Title track 2: ‘Ah! Spain
’. Duration 04:30
Title track 3: ‘Jelly Man’. Duration 04:56
Title track 5: ‘El General’. Duration 04:26
2) CD, label Bluebird/RCA Victor; no. ND86471.
Title CD: ‘The RCA Victor Jazz Workshop – The Arrangers’.
Performers: same as above, listed under 1)
Title track 13: ‘Vera Cruz’. Duration 03:25
Title track 15: ‘Morning In Montevideo’. Duration 03:25
Title track 16: ‘Greenup’. Duration 03:53
Title track 17: ‘Mr. Barrelhouse’. Duration 06:20
3) LP, label RCA Victor, no. LSP-3372.
Title LP: ‘Insight – The Rod Levitt Orchestra’.
Performers: same as above, listed under 1)
Title side 2, track 5: ‘Fugue For Tinhorns’. Duration 03:37
Title side 2, track 1: ‘Stop Those Men!’ Duration 05:21
4) CD, label Bluebird/RCA Victor; no. ND86471.
Title CD: ‘The RCA Victor Jazz Workshop – The Arrangers’.
Performers: same as above, listed under 1)
Title track 14: ‘Holler No. 3’. Duration 04:35
5) LP, label RCA Victor; no. LPM-3448.
Title LP: ‘Solid Ground – The Rod Levitt Orchestra’.
Performers: same as above, listed under 1)
Title side 2, track 3 – encore: ‘Rio Rita’. Duration 02:36
ALL COMPOSITIONS & ARRANGEMENTS: ROD LEVITT
