Composer, arranger and pianist Milcho Leviev was born in Eastern Europe on December 19, 1937. Milcho graduated from the State Academy of Music in 1960 majoring in Composition and his professional development as a composer began at the Drama Theatre in Plovdiv. He later became conductor of the Big Band of Bulgarian National Radio, as well as from 1963 to 1968 he accepted an appointment as conductor of the Sofia and the Plovdiv Philharmonic. In 1970, for various reasons he tells us, he left Bulgaria moving first to Germany, and then to the United States. It wasn?t until 1980 by the way that he once again performed in Bulgaria. It?s interesting to note how the world politics have changed since this conversation took place in February of 1982 in Los Angeles, California. He tells us in this clip of his first experiences in the US as composer, arranger and pianist with the Don Ellis Orchestra, then drummer Billy Cobham, saxophonists John Klemmer and Art Pepper, drummer Roy Haynes and others. Recorded and produced for Gallery 41 by Ron J. Pelletier

[ Wed, 17 Jan 2007 21:16:16 -0800 ]

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