Lou Levy

Louis A. Levy (March 5, 1928 – January 23, 2001), generally known as Lou Levy, was a bebop-based pianist who worked with many top jazz artists, later coming to embrace the cool jazz medium and playing in that style as well (though never quite losing his Bud Powell influence).

Levy was born to Jewish parents in Chicago and started playing piano when he was 12. His chief influences were Art Tatum and Bud Powell.

A professional at age 19, Levy played with Georgie Auld (1947 and later), Sarah Vaughan, Chubby Jackson (1947–1948), Boyd Raeburn, Woody Herman's Second Herd (1948–1950), Tommy Dorsey (1950) and Flip Phillips. Levy left music for a few years in the early fifties and then returned to gain a strong reputation as an accompanist to singers, working with Peggy Lee (1955–1973), Ella Fitzgerald (1957–1962), June Christy, Anita O'Day and Pinky Winters. Levy also played with Shorty Rogers, Stan Getz, Terry Gibbs, Benny Goodman, Supersax and most of the major West Coast players. Levy recorded as a leader for Nocturne (1954), RCA, Jubilee, Philips, Interplay (1977), and Verve.

He died on January 23, 2001 in Dana Point, California.

Selected discography

 * Jazz in Hollywood, 1954
 * A Most Musical Fella, 1956
 * Jazz in Four Colors, 1956
 * Solo Scene, 1956
 * Piano Playhouse, 1957
 * A Touch of Class, 1970s
 * "The Kid's Got Ears!" (1982)
 * Lunacy (1992)
 * Ya Know (1993)
 * By Myself (1995)

As sideman
With Dee Dee Bridgewater With June Christy With Ella Fitzgerald With Peggy Lee With Sonny Stitt
 * Dear Ella (1997)
 * Impromptu (1977)
 * Ella in Rome: The Birthday Concert (1958, released 1988)
 * Ella Swings Lightly (1958)
 * Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Songbook (1959)
 * Get Happy! (1959)
 * Ella in Hollywood (1961)
 * Ella Returns to Berlin (1961)
 * Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie! (1961)
 * Black Coffee (1956)
 * Sonny Stitt Blows the Blues (Verve, 1959)
 * Saxophone Supremacy (Verve, 1959)
 * Sonny Stitt Swings the Most (Verve, 1959)
 * Sonny Stitt - Previously Unreleased Recordings (Verve, 1960 [1973])