Milcho Leviev

Leviev’s early Sonata for Violin and Piano from 1957 is peppered with jazz riffs, syncopated rhythms, driven ostinatos, and free-flowing solo cadenzas. The sonata is in three movements: Allegro, Passacaglia - Andante, and Prestissimo, the passacaglia appearing transformed and at break-neck speed in the finale.

Emigrating to the US and settling permanently in Los Angeles in 1970, award winning Bulgarian pianist Milcho Leviev enjoyed a prolific international career as a performer, composer, and arranger. He performed extensively as a solosist as well as in collaboration with Al Jarreau, Don Ellis and Billy Cobham, among others.

His output reflects a solid background in composition, though often imbued with whimsical contemporary originality. Works for unusual ensembles abound, such as the seven pieces for harp, vibraphone, viola and bass clarinet, A Child’s Day. The idea of improvisation is never far from even typically classical forms.

Spending his last years in Greece, Leviev died on October 12, 2019 in Thessaloniki.