Milcho Leviev

Milcho Leviev studied at National Academy of Music. Training under Pancho Vladigerov and Andreĭ Stoi︠a︡nov is recorded. The recorded working language is Bulgarian and English. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are jazz and post-bop. Distinctions recorded are Order of Stara Planina, Order of Saints Cyril and Methodius Equal-to-apostles and honorary doctorate.

Leviev graduated from the Bulgarian State Academy of Music in 1960, majoring in composition under Pancho Vladigerov and in piano under Andrei Stoyanov. His professional development as a composer began at the Drama Theatre in Plovdiv. After Emil Georgiev left office, Leviev was appointed conductor of the Bulgarian National Radio big band (1962–66). His ideas were innovative in the orchestra; pieces like Studia, Blues in 9 or Anti-waltz combined folklore and jazz. He worked as soloist and conductor of the Sofia and Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra from 1963-1968. In 1965, embracing the idea of the writer Radoy Ralin, he founded Jazz Focus '65 with which he toured until 1970, achieving success for Bulgarian jazz and winning prizes at jazz festivals in Montreux, Sofia, and Prague. In 1970, he left Bulgaria and moved to Los Angeles. He performed again in Bulgaria in the early 1980s. Leviev worked as composer, arranger, and pianist for the Don Ellis Orchestra (1970–1975) and the Billy Cobham Band (1971–77). He toured the U.S. and Europe and was music director for Lainie Kazan (1977–80). He gave concerts and recorded with John Klemmer, Art Pepper, and Roy Haynes. Leviev toured Europe with Pepper (1980–82) and was one of the founders of the fusion band Free Flight. In 1983, Leviev became music director of the Jazz Sessions at the Comeback Inn in Venice, California. He gave concerts in Japan with bassist Dave Holland (1983–86) and organized solo jazz recitals in Europe (1985–86). He taught jazz composition at the University of Southern California and given master classes at the New Bulgarian University in Sofia. He composed symphony and chamber works, big band, and jazz orchestra music. In the 1960s, he wrote film music. Leviev died on 12 October 2019 in Thessaloniki, Greece.

Piano Lesson (Dobre, 1978) Blue Levis (Dobre, 1978) What's New (Atlas, 1980) Blues for the Fisherman (Mole Jazz, 1980) True Blues (Mole Jazz, 1981) Plays the Music of Irving Berlin (Discovery, 1982) Music for Big Band and Symphony Orchestra (Trend, 1983) Destination (Optimism, 1987) Bulgarian Piano Blues (MA, 1990) The Oracle with Dave Holland (Pan Music, 1992) Up & Down with Dave Holland (MA, 1993) Jive Sambas (Vartan Jazz, 1997) Man from Plovdiv (MA, 1999) Quiet Love with Vicky Almazidu (Ethnic Art, 2004) Multiple Personalities (Mighty Quinn, 2006) Quiet March (Perfect, 2015)

With Billy Cobham Total Eclipse (Atlantic, 1974) Shabazz (Atlantic, 1975) A Funky Thide of Sings (Atlantic, 1975) With Don Ellis Tears of Joy (Columbia, 1971) Connection (Columbia, 1972) Soaring (MPS, 1973) Haiku (MPS, 1974) With Roy Haynes Thank You Thank You (Galaxy, 1977) Vistalite (Galaxy, 1979) With Gerald Wilson Jessica (Trend, 1983) Calafia (Trend, 1985) With Dusan Bogdanovic Winter Tale (Doberman - Yppan, 2008) With others Al Jarreau, Breakin' Away (Warner Bros., 1981) Arif Mardin, Journey (Atlantic, 1974) Airto Moreira, Virgin Land (Salvation, 1974) L. Subramaniam, Fantasy without Limits (Trend, 1980)