Lou Levy • The Hymn

 

Review by Ken Dryden
Lou Levy had a long career, but the pianist was better known as a sideman than for his relatively rare dates as a leader. This enjoyable trio session from 1962, with bassist Max Bennett and drummer Stan Levey, mixes show tunes, jazz classics, and a few originals. Although John Coltrane put a very personal stamp on "My Favorite Things" with his landmark 1960 recording, Levy finds a different path that has plenty of its own fire, while "How High the Moon" is refreshingly deliberate, played as a slow waltz. Humor is the central ingredient to the Scottish folk tune "Comin' Thru the Rye," starting with a bagpipe-like dirge in the pianist's left hand and Levey's drum roll, the piece quickly lightens up into a cool jazz setting. Charlie Parker's "The Hymn" is also quite entertaining, as are Levy's compositions, especially "Won't You Let Me In," the bluesy closer that reminds one of the gospel-like call and response of Bobby Timmons' "Moanin'." Veteran publicist and author Peter Levinson's liner notes are very informative. This long-unavailable record will be difficult to locate and seems to be an unlikely candidate for reissue.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-hymn-mw0000868622

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Reseña de Ken Dryden
Lou Levy tuvo una larga carrera, pero el pianista era más conocido como sideman que por sus relativamente raras citas como líder. Esta agradable sesión de trío de 1962, con el bajista Max Bennett y el baterista Stan Levey, mezcla temas de espectáculo, clásicos del jazz y algunos originales. Aunque John Coltrane imprimió un sello muy personal a "My Favorite Things" con su histórica grabación de 1960, Levy encuentra un camino diferente que tiene mucho de su propio fuego, mientras que "How High the Moon" es refrescantemente deliberado, tocado como un vals lento. El humor es el ingrediente central de la melodía folclórica escocesa "Comin' Thru the Rye", que comienza con un canto de gaitas en la mano izquierda del pianista y el redoble de la batería de Levey, la pieza se aligera rápidamente en un entorno de jazz fresco. "The Hymn" de Charlie Parker también es bastante entretenida, al igual que las composiciones de Levy, especialmente "Won't You Let Me In", el cierre bluesero que recuerda a la llamada y respuesta evangélica de "Moanin'" de Bobby Timmons. Las notas del veterano publicista y autor Peter Levinson son muy informativas. Este disco, que hace tiempo que no está disponible, será difícil de localizar y parece un candidato poco probable para su reedición.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-hymn-mw0000868622

Tracks
1 The Hymn (Parker)  3:14
2 The Piccolino (from "Top Hat") (Berlin)  2:31
3 My Favorite Things (from the Sound of Music") (Rodgers, Hammerstein)  3:11
4 How High the Moon (from "Two for the Show") (Lewis, Hamilton)  3:51
5 Of Thee I Sing (Gershwin, Gershwin)  4:57
6 By Myself (from "Between the Devil") (Dietz, Schwartz)  2:21
7 Davana (Levy)  3:01
8 My Old Flame (Johnston, Coslow)  3:57
9 Comin' Thru the Rye (Levy)  3:42
10 Won't You Please Let Me in (Levy)  4:49


Credits:
Lou Levy - p
Max Bennett - b
Stan Levey - dr

Recorded at United Recording Studios, Hollywood ; April 9 & 10, 1962

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