Stan Levey

Stan Levey on vinyl: from bebop to the West Coast

In short: Stan Levey (1926–2005) from Philadelphia drummed in New York in the forties with Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker – right at the birth of bebop. In the fifties he moved to the West Coast, played with Stan Kenton and the Lighthouse All-Stars and recorded albums of his own. Later he became a photographer. The Vinyl Room currently has 5 Stan Levey records.

What makes Stan Levey special?

A drummer with a bebop schooling and West Coast elegance: “This Time The Drum’s On Me” (1955) and “Grand Stan” were made for the Bethlehem label, “Stanley The Steamer” is a later reissue of these 1955 recordings with saxophonist Dexter Gordon.

As a sideman he can be heard on “The Arrival Of Victor Feldman” (1958) – in a trio with vibraphonist and pianist Victor Feldman and the young bassist Scott LaFaro.

From our stock

First pressings

Records by Stan Levey

→ Bethlehem Records · Dexter Gordon · Bop · Jazz on vinyl

FAQ

Who did Stan Levey play with in the forties? Among others Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker.

What is “Stanley The Steamer”? A later reissue of “This Time The Drum’s On Me” with 1955 recordings, featuring Dexter Gordon among others.

What did he do after music? He worked as a photographer.

Which records do you have? Records from the fifties and later editions – 5 records in all.