Rod Levitt

5 STARS DOWN BEAT Original Review: Insight
"The imaginative writing, the ensemble precision, the combination of a deeply rooted jazz foundation and adventurous ideas, the humor that crops up again and again in Levitt's approach and in the brash, blowsy sound of his trombone are a mixture of elements that make this band".

This release presents the complete original album Insight & Solid Ground by the Rodd Levitt Orchestra celebrated Swedish Trumpeter Rolf Ericson. These were the second and third Lps, respectively, out of only four albums Levitt, who also composed most of the tunes here, would make under his own name during his entire career. Both albums appear on CD here for the first time ever.

ROD LEVITT, trombone, leader & arranger
ROLF ERICSON, trumpet & flugelhorn
BUZZ RENN, alto saxophone, clarinet & flute
GEORGE MARGE, tenor saxophone, clarinet, piccolo, flute, alto -flute & oboe
GENE ALLEN, baritone saxophone, bass-clarinet
SY JOHNSON, piano
JOHN BEAL, bass
RONNIE BEDFORD, drums


[1-9] Insight / The Rod Levitt Orchestra New York, December 9- 11, 1964.

01 VERA CRUZ 3:37
02 INSIGHT 2:39
03 ALL I DO IS DREAM OF YOU 3:07
04 THE MAYOR OF VERMONT VILLAGE 7:59
05 STOP THOSE MEN! 5:16
06 OH, YOU BEAUTIFUL DOLL 2:13
07 HOLLER No.3 4:37
08 CHERRY 2:12
09 FUGUE FOR TINHORNS 3:34

[10-17] Solid Ground/ The Rod Levitt Orchestra New York, July 7 - 9, 1965.

10 LEVITTOWN 4:49
11 MORNING IN MONTEVIDEO 3:26
12 SAN FRANCISCO 2:43
13 BOROUGH HALL 8:30
14 I WANNA STOMP 5:19
15 GREENUP 3:52
16 RIO RITA 2:35
17 MR. BARRELHOUSE 6:19

TOTAL TIME: 72:54