Milcho Leviev
Miltscho Isakov Lewiew ( Bulgarian Милчо Левиев; Milcho Leviev most; born December 19, 1937 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria) is an American jazz pianist, composer and arranger of Bulgarian origin.
Life
Miltscho Lewiew studied music at the State Academy of Music in Composition under Professor Pancho Vladiguerov and Piano under Professor Andrei Stoyanov. His professional career began as a composer at the theater in Plovdiv. He also led the Big Band of the Bulgarian National Radio in the wake of Emil Georgiev. His innovative ideas for pieces such as Studia, Blues in 9 or anti - waltz counted as a successful blend of Bulgarian folk music and jazz. From 1963 to 1968 he worked as a soloist and conductor of the Symphony Orchestra of Sofia. In 1965 he founded with Simeon Shterev the formation Jazz Focus '65, with whom he undertook to 1970 toured and performed at international jazz festivals in Montreux, Prague and Sofia.
In 1970 Lewiew Bulgaria for political reasons; for a short time he lived in the Federal Republic of Germany, where he worked among others with the jazz ensemble of the Hessischer Rundfunk. He then traveled to the USA, where he worked as a composer, arranger and pianist first at Don Ellis (1971-1976) and in implementing the complex Balkan rhythms for Big Band. He also worked with Billy Cobham ( 1971-77 ). Lewiew, who was an American citizen in 1977, also served as musical director Lainie Kazan ( 1977-80 ), played with John Klemmer, Art Pepper, Roy Haynes and Carmen McRae. With Art Pepper, he recorded several albums between 1980-83, and toured with him through Europe. At the same time, he led his formation to Free Flight. After 1983, he was musical director of the jazz sessions in the Comeback Inn in Venice, California. With Dave Holland he gave concerts in Japan ( 1983-86 ) and played as a piano soloist in Europe ( 1985-86 ). Lewiew taught jazz composition at the University of Southern California. At the University of Sofia, he led master classes.
Lewiew composed several symphonic and chamber music as well as music for big band. In the 1960s, he also wrote film music.
Auswahldiskographie
- Billy Cobham: Total Eclipse (Atlantic )
- Free Flight: The Jazz / Classic Union ( Palo Alto, 1982)
- Roy Haynes: Vistalita ( Galxy, 1977)
- Miltscho Lewiew: Blues For The Fisherman; True Blues ( Mole, 1980) with Art Pepper, Tony Dumas, Carl Burnett
- Art Pepper Quintet: Laurie's Choice ( Fresh Sound )
- Miltscho Lewiew / Theodosii Spassov Trio Gourbet Mohabet (Live) 1990
- Jazz Ensemble of the Hessischer Rundfunk: atmosphering Condition Permitting (ECM 1967-93 )