One Night at the Kitano in Bloomington, MN

Jed Levy
has been a part of the New York City jazz scene for some time, with recording credits as a sideman with
Jaki Byard & the Apollo Stompers
,
Peter Leitch
, and
Steve Davis
, as well as a number of recordings as a leader, though he may have slipped under the radar for many jazz fans. But this veteran tenor saxophonist merits more attention, being a gifted composer and talented improviser. On this occasion, a live set at
the Kitano
, he's joined by the superb pianist
Bill Mays
(who has recorded extensively as a leader, as well as serving
Gerry Mulligan
Sarah Vaughan
, and many others) plus bassist
Ugonna Okegwo
and drummer
Billy Drummond
, two in-demand sideman. He picks up the tempo of
Billy Strayhorn
's
"A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing"
ever so slightly, playing spaciously and lyrically, adding a tag of
Duke Ellington
"The Single Petal of a Rose"
as he wraps the performance.
Levy
"A Great Week"
works its way systematically through numerous keys, an experiment that has been done by other jazz composers, but rarely in so swinging a fashion.
"Match Point"
is a delightfully breezy samba, while the finale,
"Blues Excerpt,"
is an on-the-spot improvisation that concludes the set with plenty of sizzle, leaving the listener wanting more. ~ Ken Dryden