Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Jim Levendis: The Big Band Project

Jim Levendis: The Big Band Project

By Jack Bowers
August 28, 2022
View read count

Jim Levendis

arranger

" data-original-title="" title="">Jim Levendis knew that time was running out. In his mid-seventies, the veteran Philadelphia-area trumpeter and educator had contracted ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), the effects of which were rapidly sapping his energy and ability to function. As the disease progressed, Levendis confided in

Len Pierro

saxophone
b.1957

" data-original-title="" title="">Len Pierro, a band mate in the Ward Marston band, that there was one thing he would dearly love to do while he was still able: record some of the big-band arrangements he had written over the years and leave an album for his peers and future generations to enjoy.

Pierro basically took it from there, gathering and editing Levendis' charts, assembling a seventeen-piece big band to play them, and scheduling rehearsal and recording dates in January 2022, in spite of the Covid pandemic. Levendis was able to attend those sessions and to take part from his home in the mixing and editing process. Levendis passed away on March 20; the Jim Levendis Big Band Project was released on June 30.

As an arranger, Levendis was old-school, producing straight-ahead charts whose lively tempos and unforeseen curves helped keep them fresh and enticing. As he was not a composer, every number on the album is an evergreen from the Great American Songbook, save for a medley of Latin themes by

Antonio Carlos Jobim

piano
1927 - 1994

" data-original-title="" title="">Antonio Carlos Jobim and

Lionel Hampton

vibraphone
1908 - 2002

" data-original-title="" title="">Lionel Hampton, and one hymn (Franz Gruber's timeless "Silent Night," a brief showpiece for trombones that closes the album). The ensemble is letter-perfect, as are the soloists, and to make absolutely sure of that, Pierro recruited

Larry McKenna

saxophone, tenor
1937 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Larry McKenna, one of the finest tenor saxophonists Philly has produced, to solo on "Taking a Chance on Love," "Easy to Love" and "Everything I Love." McKenna must have "loved" adding his voice, which is as perceptive and engaging as ever.

A second tenor,

Danny Muller

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Danny Muller, solos impressively on "Jeepers Creepers" and "Just in Time," while flugelhornist

Tony DeSantis

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Tony DeSantis is featured on Hoagy Carmichael/Mitchell Parish's sunlit "One Morning in May." Others soloing are trumpeter

Matt Gallagher

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Matt Gallagher, alto saxophonist

Ron Kerber

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Ron Kerber, trombonist

Brian Pastor

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Brian Pastor and pianist

Tom Lawton

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Tom Lawton. Lawton carries the melody on Steve Allen's "This Could Be the Start of Something Big," one of Levendis' few missteps, as that robust and upbeat theme warrants a full-throated cadenza by brass and reeds.

Besides being a musician, Levendis was an avid bowler who logged twenty-three perfect 300 games. Although the Big Band Project lands a mark or two short of that, it is in the pocket far more often than not, and Levendis' desire to endow for others a splendid album of his big-band arrangements has been realized.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

This Could Be the Start of Something Big; Taking a Chance on Love; The Nearness of You; Jeepers Creepers; Stardust; Easy to Love; One Morning in May; Everything I Love; Latin Medley (O Morro Nao Tern Vez/Midnight Sun/Corcovado); Just in Time; Silent Night.

Personnel

Jim Levendis

arranger

Matt Gallagher

trumpet

Dave DiValentino

trumpet

Daniel Wright

trumpet

Tony DeSantis

trumpet

Ron Kerber

saxophone, tenor

Anthony Nigro

saxophone, alto

Skip Spratt

saxophone, tenor

Danny Muller

saxophone, tenor

Mark Allen

saxophone, baritone

Fred Scott

trombone

Brian Pastor

trombone

Chris Mele

trombone

Dave Clanci

trombone, bass

Tom Lawton

piano

Madison Rast

bass

Lew Leabman

drums

Joe Nero

percussion

Larry McKenna

saxophone, tenor

Album information

Title: The Big Band Project | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: Self Produced

PREVIOUS / NEXT

The Beatles: Get Back
< Previous

Australian Jazz Fusion In The Spotli...
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.