PRJC Presents: Dan Levinson & the Palomar Jazz Band (in-person concert)

The Potomac River Jazz Club is eager to welcome back award-winning, New York City-based reedman Dan Levinson and friends for its September 13 concert. Dan was last here in 2023, presenting a dazzling tribute to the Benny Goodman sextet.

For this appearance, Dan has assembled a truly stellar ensemble of all- stars from New Orleans, Chicago and New York City—plus local PRJC favorite David Sager—for what promises to be a spectacular afternoon of searing hot jazz. In addition to trombonist David Sager, Dan will be joined by instrumentalists Mike Davis on cornet, Paul Asaro on piano, Hunter Burgamy on banjo, Rob Adkins on bass, and Colin Hancock on drums. Molly Ryan’s silvery voice—which recalls the lush, elegant big band vocalists—will add a dash of spice to the ensemble.

The 2017 winner of Hot House Magazine’s “NYC Jazz Fans Decision” award for Best Clarinetist, Dan Levinson is equally at home as both leader and sideman, fronting his own groups as well as performing with those led by others. During a 30-year career specializing in traditional jazz and swing music, he has appeared alongside such prominent artists as Mel Tormé, Wynton Marsalis, Dick Hyman, Bria Skonberg, Ed Polcer, Howard Alden, Joe Ascione, Dan Barrett, Jon-Erik Kelso, Randy Reinhart, Mark Shane, Dick Sudhalter, Frank Vignola, Rossano Sportiello, Nicki Parrott, and Randy Sandke.

Dan has put together multiple jazz ensembles that vary considerably in style and repertoire, running the gamut from ragtime-era dance music to early jazz to swing: his Canary Cottage Dance Orchestra specializes in early twentieth century (pre-jazz) popular music; his Roof Garden Jass Band is devoted exclusively to re-creating the earliest jazz recordings, made between 1917 and 1923; his Palomar Quartet is modeled after the renowned Benny Goodman Quartet and features the same lineup of clarinet, piano, vibes, and drums; his gypsy jazz group Fête Manouche honors the rich legacy of guitarist Django Reinhardt; and his New Millennium All Stars brings together a new generation of young and vibrant “torch bearers” who are currently breathing new life into century-old jazz traditions.

Originally from the Los Angeles area, Dan moved to New York in 1983. The following year he met 82-year-old reedman James “Rosy” McHargue, who became Dan’s friend and mentor, and over the next fifteen years taught him most of what he now knows about music and life. During that period Dan also studied with world-class clarinet instructor Leon Russianoff and saxophone virtuoso Al Gallodoro.

In 1990 Dan moved to Paris to join a band formed by American cornetist Dick Miller that featured the up-and-coming vocalist Madeleine Peyroux, then 16 years old. Dan’s wanderlust soon took him across the continent, through 17 European countries, where he earned a living for a year playing on the streets. Shortly after returning to the U.S., Dan temporarily relocated to New Orleans to perform a five-night-a-week engagement at the Royal Sonesta Hotel on Bourbon Street.

Dan has performed on over 150 CDs, including nine under his own name. He can also be heard on the soundtracks to the films The Cat’s Meow, Ghost World, The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond, and Martin Scorsese’s The Aviator, as well as on all five seasons of the Grammy Award-winning HBO television series Boardwalk Empire and all three seasons of the Amazon Prime Video series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Dan’s complete discography, along with his engagement calendar, photos, more information on his ensembles, and samples of his music, are available at www.danlevinson.com.

PRJC is honored to have Dan and friends perform for its audience again.