Milcho Leviev - Bulgarian Piano Blues (1989)

Tracklist

1 King Bassie (To Count Basie) 2:57
2 Ice Cream Truck 4:37
3 Women's Dance 5:08
4 The Island 3:23
5 Joe (To Joe Farrell) 3:09
6 Kaval Melody 2:48
7 B Major! 7:46
8 4 + 3 3:03
9 NH 4:37
10 Oh My Grandpa 6:05
11 Matsumoto 10:09
12 Night Fires (Bruce Stark) 5:01

personnel :

Milcho Leviev - piano

A brilliant pianist who gained some fame when he was with Don Ellis' orchestra in the 1970s, Milcho Leviev has played in the Los Angeles area ever since. This rare solo piano CD features Leviev mostly playing his originals, which include tributes to Count Basie ("King Bassie") and Joe Farrell ("Joe") in addition to a Bulgarian folk song ("Oh My Grandpa"). Leviev shows a great deal of sensitivity on the ballads, romps on the hotter material, and displays his virtuosity and command of the piano when the music calls for it. Leviev's 11 selections (recorded in Japan) are joined by a complementary solo piano number ("Night Fires") by Bruce Stark that was also released on Stark's own M-A release. This little-known CD will take time to locate but it is worth the search.~Scott Yanow