WE ARE THE LEVITTS

[JSngry]

Personally, I think it's one of those "only on ESP" oddities that I'm glad to have , but only because I didn't pay too much for it, if you know what I mean. Mrs. Levitt's vocals just don't cut it for me. Sincere, yes. But....

OTOH, there's a very good Chick Corea cameo or two, round, firm, and fully packed, and the bubblegum songs struggle mightly to fall into the so-bad-they're-good category, and make it by a hair, I think.

So, what's your opinon?

Edited June 1, 2004 by JSngry

[jazzbo]

Wow looks weird. I don't have an opinion because I've never heard this one.

Corea of this vintage would add value to the session though; the man was really playing then!

Edited June 1, 2004 by jazzbo

[John L]

So, what's your opinon?

I'm sure that I would have had a very strong opinion of it if I had ever heard it.

[ralphie_boy]

Never heard it either. Is is rock, or jazz or folk or what?

[JSngry]

Ok, it's drummer Al Levitt's (he of Tristano-circle reknown) family band., and is very much a hodge-podge of different styles. Mrs. Levitt is a singer who sings w/more feeling than finesse (and not necessarily in a good way), and the kids do their thing in a variety of ways, some bubblegummy, some kind of "out". Al brings in his crew (REAL players, and I can swear I hear him breating a sigh of relief) for a few things. Only in the 60s, and only on ESP (broadly speaking).

Here's the blurb from the ESP site: http://www.espdisk.com/esp1095.html

13 year old guitarist Sean Levitt was improvising on a borrowed guitar at the Central Park fountain for a young attentive audience when he was spotted by ESP. While being auditioned, Sean mentioned his musical family, which included his father, drummer Al Levitt; his mother, vocalist Stella Levitt; his 15 year old drummer brother George; his singing sisters Michele (16), Minou (14) and Teresa (11); and his two younger brothers Billy (9) and Robin (6) who had not as yet chosen their instruments, although Billy was convinced that if he could get his hands on a flute, he could play it.

Sean's great-great-grandfather on his mother's side was a young Lisbon architect who voyaged to Mexico to design the church of Santa Maria del Oro, and there married Mariana, a beautiful Mexican girl. His grandfather is a classical and flamenco guitarist who, as a youth, ran away with a band of gypsies, and learned to play the guitar. He settled in California where he performed on radio and motion picture sound tracks.

Sean's parents, Al and Stella, worked with Georgie Auld in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, and toured with Lionel Hampton. Father Al played with Stan Getz, Paul Bley and Lee Konitz. Al lived in Paris during the 1950s and played there with Sidney Bechet, Bud Powell, Luckey Thompson, Martial Solal, Barney Wilen, Stephane Grappelly, Rene Urteger and Sacha Distel.

This CD features the Levitts, playing with close friends, Chick Corea and Bob Leeman on piano; Ted Kotick, bass; Pete Yellin, alto sax and flute; Eddie Shu, harmonica; Evaline Steinbrock, cello; Ronnie Cuber, baritone sax; Lou Orensteen, flute; Don Heller, vocal and Larry Provost, composer and guitarist.

[jazzbo]

I figured it was Al and I think Chick would have fit in there well, and Cuber too, eh. . . . Wild fusion blend from the sixties! A find.

[chris olivarez]

ESP wasn't that the label with the Fugs?

[JSngry]

and Albert Ayler, Paul Bley, Marion Brown, the New York Art Quartet, etc...

[Dmitry]

...Chairman Levitt also added in response to a gentleman in the tie-dyed t-shirt[not pictured]," Yes, I used to be in that band. I was the tenth Levitt."

[brownie]

Never heard the ESP Levitts.

Stella Levitt recorded an album under her name in 1980 (in Belgium?). It came out on the Adda label. Jacques Pelzer on alto, Dennis Luxion on piano, Ricardo Del Fra on bass and Al Levitt on drums were in the backup group. Album was not too bad!

[ralphie_boy]

Thanks Jim. That's an interesting line-up w/ Corea, Cuber and Teddy Kotick.

[JSngry]

Yeah, but they're not on every cut.