Stan Levey - R.I.P.

Valerie · April-20th-2005, 05:21 PM

very sorry to hear that stan levey passed away last evening. a dvd celebration was scheduled for may 1st at the lighthouse. so sad. he was such a sweetheart aside from a very talented drummer, photographer, etc.

my sincere condolences to his friends and family.

groover · April-20th-2005, 05:29 PM

One of the seminal bop drummers. He was there with Bird and Diz at the beginning of it all. RIP, Stan!

Chris D · April-20th-2005, 05:47 PM

He always had great empathy with Lou Levy. R.I.P. indeed.

burning dog · April-20th-2005, 05:52 PM

I was listening to him with Getz on "The Steamer" recently.

"There will never be another you"

RIP

graypencil · April-20th-2005, 09:02 PM

Another real bebop pioneer is gone ..very sad ..

..and on the same day as NHOP yet ..

RIP to another great rhythm section ..

and my heart goes out to both their respective families ..

Dr Dave · April-20th-2005, 09:10 PM

In the 1940s, nobody was faster on the brushes. Not too many could keep up with Bird. Stan could, no problem. Another redwood falls.

Tom Storer · April-21st-2005, 05:30 AM

One of the French jazz monthlies just had an interview with him this year, of the "at home with Stan Levey" variety. He had dropped out of music many years ago and apparently had no regrets. It was an interesting interview. I'll see if I can dig it up and quote some excerpts.

hornplayer · April-21st-2005, 09:39 AM

that Big Band in the sky keeps getting bigger.

RIP.

clinthopson · April-21st-2005, 11:43 AM

Wow, this has been a bad year for us West Coasters, first Pete Jolly, then Larry Bunker and now Stan Levey.

Stan was one of the truly great drummers. I was fortunate to see him a number of times with the Lighthouse All-Stars and in other groups.

Two of my favorite discs with Stan on the tubs are the Howard Rumsey LAS' "Mexican Passport" and "West Coast Jazz" led by Richie Kamuca and Bill Holman. I think the latter is one of the best illustrations of how creatively Stan could kick a band.

Weizen · January-30th-2007, 08:36 PM

A nice little hard swingin' tribute to Stan on YouTube!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=va5TbF8lniU

Sandy Brown · January-30th-2007, 08:54 PM

Hmmm..weird...There always seems to be a Philadelphia connection with these Jazz cats!

Ron Thorne · January-30th-2007, 09:20 PM

What a terrific musician.

Another sad day for those of us who enjoyed and admired this superb drummer.

Condolences to his family and legions of fans and friends.

R.I.P., Stan Levey~

Sandi22 · January-31st-2007, 12:01 AM

I was fortunate to have talked to Stan just before he left us, however, he didn't even mention how very sick he was. How like him.

He was a special fellow and one I was lucky to know.

It was Stan Levey, along with Frank Rosolino, who had Dizzy Gillespie run down the street after me one afternoon to drag me, protesting all the way, back to the Lighthouse, all so I wouldn't miss Dizzy and his band. It was a funny experience and my most embarrassing time; it really was. I had no clue as to who Dizzy was until he picked up his horn, and then Stan and Frank both broke up laughing at the expression on my face; I had thought Dizzy was the cover charge taker. He took me in, asked the people in the front row to get up and give me their seats, and I about died, me telling them they didn't have to do that, but Dizzy picked up their drinks and handed them to the couple, telling them "But oh yes they do." I mean to tell you, I must have gone 6 shaded of red. The couple he told to move, jumped up off their seats, smiling all the while and that seemed so odd to me, me still telling them they didn't have to do this, this going on for what seemed like forever, while the standing room only crowd were all saying "Who's that girl"? They did put on a show like you wouldn't have believed, the laughter and the kidding with me continued all through the set. If they hadn't done that I wouldn't have ever seen Dizzy play again and they probably knew it. Stan said he was beginning to think I wasn't going to be coming back as I had made it to the corner already, and was refusing to go back, but I was glad. and so were they that I did finally agree to it, this because Dizzy took one crutch and put his arm around my waist and half way carried me all the way back. Frank and Stan were both my special friends, and I think of them all the time.

Stan was loved by everyone. It was Stan Charlie Parker turned to in his darkest time, and it was Stan who did all he could to help and protect him. They had started out together, Stan as a teenager. Charlie, Miles, and Stan all lived together when Stan was just starting out. He has always been a mans man and quiet about his experiences as a rule, but he had story's you wouldn't have ever believed.

I'll always miss the fellows from the Lighthouse, they were my special friends. The talent was just so great, and when they were having fun, it was even more amazing than anything on their records. Talk about good! Awe inspiring, it truly was. The laughter was always a bonus.

hornplayer · January-31st-2007, 12:33 PM

great story! Thanks!!!

clinthopson · January-31st-2007, 01:07 PM

Great story Sandi22!

Your reminiscence about the waterfront dive always brings back many wonderful memories.

Sandi22 · January-31st-2007, 01:46 PM

It's fun remembering everyone and those great times. It was like no other place I've ever seen or heard of. The best of both worlds, Jazz and beach life; the surfing scene, and the best music one could ever imagine. Getting to know some of the fellows was special.

groover · January-31st-2007, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandi22

Stan was loved by everyone. It was Stan Charlie Parker turned to in his darkest time, and it was Stan who did all he could to help and protect him. They had started out together, Stan as a teenager. Charlie, Miles, and Stan all lived together when Stan was just starting out. He has always been a mans man and quiet about his experiences as a rule, but he had story's you wouldn't have ever believed.

Can you recall any of those stories that you can share?

Sandi22 · January-31st-2007, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by groover

Can you recall any of those stories that you can share?

Not really as Stan was never one to talk about anyone and even his son says he was so quiet about all of his experiences, but at the last he was being interviewed by someone at UCLA and getting some of it down on record.

The funniest was when Stan had to come down to the Lighthouse one day to unlock the jukebox, as no one else could find a key, all to calm Miles down, as he was in a bit of a temper over a record he was going to release being put in there that morning by the jukebox man, while Miles was up on the bandstand fiddling around. The juke box man took out some records and put some new ones in, punched up a record and out the back door he went, and it was Chet Baker playing Miles tune, the charts being the same, or so Miles was claiming. It was really something to have seen and heard. John Levine called Stan and he, had to drive from "The Tree Section" of Manhattan Beach where he lived, all the way down to the Lighthouse to get it off of there, I mean he had to take it out to stop Miles from going out of it. I can still see Stan squatted down behind the jukebox, having pulled it out from the wall trying to take care of it, looking at Miles like he couldn't believe it and for some reason, he even looked worried. Miles band had made themselves scarce for most of the time, but would wander back in, check the air, and leave again, while Miles accused everyone, but John Levine, of being part of a conspiracy to steal his music, even saying to me at one point, "You could have done it" I couldn't believe it, but he came off of that, and said he knew better, that he was just upset and lashing out After they went over some charts, everyone was saying it seemed like Chet had indeed stolen his music. That was a funny time, then there was the time when Herb Alpert and Chet had a fight, a physical one and it was really a problem, as they were saying, asking me to leave and quickly so I didn't end up being shot, as Chet and Herb were threatening to shoot one another and Chet was susposed to play the Lighthouse that afternoon and night. Herbs fans threatening anyone who might hurt Herb, so it was getting more complicated with each little report that was coming in. Herbs friends and fans were some of the tough upper class Mexicans from the Greater Los Angeles area. That was scary for some and it had Stan and Frank as well as the other band members very upset and angry.

groover · January-31st-2007, 06:17 PM

Interesting, thanks, Sandi!

Sandi22 · January-31st-2007, 06:22 PM

Thanks and you're welcome. Did a small addition to better explain a little, and edits, since I'm forever not checking things out, not until I post something.