HANK LEVY BAND AT AN DIE MUSIK – FEB 28

[The concert previously scheduled for Jan. 24th was snowed out and is rescheduled for 5:00 p.m.,FEB. 28] As reported January 5th in the Baltimore Sun, Downbeat Magazine has just named An die Musik as one of the 193 best jazz venues in the world, along with Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club, and four venues in Washington, D.C. This is the first time that any Baltimore venue has been included on the list, published annually since 2011.

For ten years, An die Musik has been presenting concerts of jazz, classical, and world music to discriminating Baltimore music-lovers. Up a narrow flight of stairs in an historic townhouse in the heart of the Charles Street entertainment district, the concert hall seats 80 people in large, upholstered vintage armchairs. Listeners face a stage the size of a large living room whose antique yellow walls cast a warm glow over the performers.

It is fitting then, that at the time it has received this honor, An die Musik will be presenting a concert January 24 by a notable Baltimore institution, the Hank Levy Legacy Band. Based at Towson University, this 21-piece band performs a repertoire of compositions by the late Hank Levy, Baltimore saxophonist and jazz educator, who founded the jazz program at Towson University in 1967 and directed it until his retirement in 1989. During his tenure, he established and directed the big band; after his retirement, he renamed it The Hank Levy Alumni Band.

After Levy’s death, Bernie Robier, who played with Levy in the early 1960s, got together with Levy’s nephew Stewart Levy to carry on the band under the name of The Hank Levy Legacy Band, in recognition of the fact that not all its members were alumni of the Hank Levy Big Band. Still, several of its members did, in fact, study under Hank Levy, including trumpeters Ray Disney, Chris Hutton, and Kennis Rolle; trombonist Tedd Wilson; saxophonist Larry Prascus, and drummer Steve Ashcraft.

Most of the band members are based in the Baltimore area, including Bernie Robier, Chris Hutton, John Lamkin, Tedd Wilson, Jeff Danchenko, Dan Wallace, Sam Fine, Jough Loosmore, Phil Heiliger, Jaimie Moffet, Steve Ashcraft, and Mike Tyler. Ray Disney recently moved away from Baltimore but still commutes from Delaware to play with the band, as does Tom Crawford from West Virginia.

The band plays only compositions by Hank Levy, who composed or arranged probably hundreds of pieces for big band – some of which are still being discovered in the files of the Towson University music library. Hank began composing for his students in the 1970s because the university’s low budget for purchase of musical scores.

As explained in his bio on the website Hank Levy Jazz, LLC (http://www.hanklevyjazz.com/), “Hank was interested in giving jazz what he called ‘a kick in the rear end’ by using odd meters like 5/4, 7/4, 9/4 and 13/8, and by employing unusual harmonies and voicing. His music was considered difficult to master but rewarding to play by the many bands with which he was associated, including his own groups.” In fact, Levy was interested in odd meters even before Paul Desmond’s famous tune in 5/4 time, “Take Five” (on Dave Brubeck’s 1959 album, Time Out). Levy’s composition, “Whiplash,” in 7/4 time, was featured in the 2014 movie of the same name, featuring the relationship between an ambitious young drummer and a harsh and demanding jazz band leader—not much like Hank Levy himself, who was “gruff but honest,” as described by drummer David Aldridge in his blog. He writes, “[Hank Levy] was a musical force to be reckoned with. He also had a pretty good throwing arm. When Hank would lead his ensemble practices, he would sometimes reach his limit and send a black eraser across the room at a player who needed waking up.” Levy’s nephew Stewart wrote, in his eulogy, that his uncle “was humble with a silent strength, He was strong-willed but with compassion for his fellow man.”

The Hank Levy Legacy Band will demonstrate its command over this challenging, complex, and exciting music at the concert January 24 at An die Musik, 409 North Charles Street, Baltimore. Call 410-385-2638 or visit www.andiemusiklive.com. See also this 2010 article in Examiner.com at http://www.examiner.com/article/local-composer-hank-levy-took-jazz-a-new-direction

–Liz Fixsen