Levitt Legacy, NYC, 8 Feb 2012
The Levitt Legacy East Village Klezmer Series
Wednesday, Feb 8 at 08:00 PM
Sixth Street Synagogue
325 E. Sixth Street
New York, NY 10003
212.473.3665
7:30PM Klezmer Workshop led by Aaron Alexander and various esteemed guests $25
6 - 7:30PM Yiddish Class taught by Dmitri Slepovitch $25
8 – 9:15PM The Levitt Legacy, ft. Dave Levitt, $15 (includes a drink)
9:30 – 11PM Klezmer Jam Session, led by Aaron Alexander and guests
Full evening pass $35 (includes Workshop or Yiddish Class, Concert, Jam Session & one drink!)
Dave Levitt learned the music business from his parents. They got him started at age eight in Hollywood, Florida. He went on to appear with his folks at every one of their performances. First it was drums and clarinet. Later it became alto sax before Dave finally settled with the trombone at age fourteen. As a teenager Dave attended the famous Laguardia H.S. of Music and Art in New York. While a student there, he was a cast member in the Elizabeth Swados production "Swing" which had a run at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. After completing High School, Dave attended Manhattan School Of Music on a scholarship. As student at MSM, Levitt had the good fortune of appearing with many notable jazz musicians. They included Red Rodney, Al Grey, Clark Terry as well as many others. It was about this time that Dave started to arrange and record Klezmer music with his father. These recordings also included their distant cousin Howie Leess on alto saxophone. After finishing his education, Dave took his artistry on the road which included the U.S. as well as Europe. Two of his European tours were with the Epstein Brothers Klezmer Band. Dave was the youngest member of the group as the brothers were well into their 70's. The eldest brother Max Epstein was in his early 80's. It was about this time that Dave started his own company called Progressive Music. The business operated as a rehearsal/recording studio for thirteen years. The business has since shifted gears and Dave is now involved in publishing as well as operating as a record label. The initial release of the label is called "Marty Levitt's Greatest Hits". It's a series of recordings with two generations in the ensemble. (Marty and Dave Levitt).