Dan Levinson’s Millenium All Stars, with Molly Ryan
Dan Levinson reeds, Molly Ryan vocals/guitar, Mike Davis cornet, Josh Holkum trombone, Jan Frankel piano, Rob Adkins bass, Rich Levinson drums,
Dan Levinson is one of the most prolific musicians on the scene today. He is largely responsible for the resurgence of Traditional Jazz and Swing in New York today, by sharing his knowledge with many upcoming musicians. This was his 17th year at the Hot Steamed Jazz Festival, and he introduced us to some of New York’s finest ‘Millenium’ musicians.
He kicked it off with a 1927 Bix tune, I’m Gonna Meet My Sweetie Now. It wasn’t on their set list, but requested by a lady in the audience; so Dan quickly scribbled up an arrangement for the band.
Molly Ryan now has several albums of her own.
Molly treated us with powerful vocals on All My Life, a tune that Helen Ward did with the Benny Goodman Trio in 1935 . You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby, and from her new album Wanderer, backed by Dan on tenor sax.
Oh Peter, Wolverines 1939 tribute to Bix Beiderbecke, Tijuana.
Mike Davis looks and sounds like Bix.
 Mike Davis, cornet |
 Bix Beiderbecke |
Mike had been begging to play this, one of Dan’s favorites, 1928 Gene Austin Garden in the Rain. Dan and Molly were backed by the rhythm section on Billy Holiday’s 1935 What a Little Moonlight Can Do; just the right accents on drum, rim-tapping.
Rich Levinson knows his drums!
Rob Adkins, string bass
Jan’s sterling piano solo was assisted
by Rob Adkins’ string bass.
Josh Holcomb, nice trombone
From Bud Freeman’s 1940 recording, I Need Some Petting, had three horns, especially nice trombone.
Dan let Jan Frankel loose on piano, his long fingers playing stride, followed by the band playing wild, interweaving, New Orleans polyphony, with growling trombone.
Jan Frankel, from Connecticut
They closed with a fabulous version of the New Orleans Rhythm Kings’ Farewell Blues, inspiring one another, mesmerizing trombone with Dan & Mike comping.
Farewell Blues
This set captured the audience, they loved every minute of it!