Dan Levinson Octet at the Bickford, November 12, 2018

Multi-reedist Dan Levinson led eight of the best trad/swing musicians on the metro NYC scene in a sold-out concert at the 300-seat Bickford Theater in the Morris Museum, on, November 12, 2018. There had been some concern about whether this series would continue after the departures of the previous theater director and programmer/publicist in June, but with an audience response like this, jazz fans don’t need to worry. The leader on clarinet and tenor sax was joined by Warren Vache (tp, voc), Bria Skonberg (tp, voc), Mariel Bildsten (trb), Rossano Sportiello (p), Molly Ryan (rhythm guitar, voc), Rob Adkins (b) & Mark McLean (d). This octet hit the stage running with Hoagy Carmichael’s “Jubilee.” Bria Skonberg sang a lilting “Don’t Be That Way” from the Benny Goodman songbook, and then Mariel Bildsten gave the crowd “Dicky’s Dream,” made famous by Basie Orchestra trombonist Dicky Wells. Molly Ryan stepped forward to sing “It’s Like Reaching for the Moon,” popularized by Billie Holiday, Ms Bildsten had another solo feature with “Blue Cellophane,” associated with Ellington trombonist Lawrence Brown, and Molly and Bria serenaded each other with “I Would Do Anything for You.” Warren Vache had a touching ballad duet with Rossano on “I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face,” before the ensemble returned for Dan Levinson’s charmingly jazzed-up arra
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John Herr is a professional jazz photographer working primarily in the North Eastern United States. He photographs multiple concerts a week.

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