מילחו לבייב

Milcho Isakov Leviev (1937-2019), jazz musician, composer, and pianist, born in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. He studied music at the State Conservatory. After graduation, Leviev began his career at the Plovdiv Drama Theater, where he worked as a conductor. He went on to become the conductor of the Big Band of the Bulgarian National Radio and worked as a soloist and conductor for the Plovdiv Orchestra and the Sofia Philharmonic.

In 1965, Leviev created the group "Jazz Focus'65" at the suggestion of Radoy Ralin, with which he toured Bulgaria and abroad to great acclaim until 1970. During this period, he gained recognition for his arrangement of Paul McCartney's hit song "Yesterday" for flute and big band. Leviev also composed music for films.

In 1970, Leviev accepted an invitation from the American Jazz musician Don Ellis (1934-1978) and moved to Los Angeles, where he stayed until 1977. He returned briefly to Bulgaria in the early 1980s to give a series of concerts before embarking on numerous tours across Europe and the United States. Leviev taught at the University of Southern California and gave master classes at the New Bulgarian University in Sofia. His works include over 10 pieces for symphonic orchestra, including Concerto for Jazz Combo and Orchestra (1965), Music for big band and symphony orchestra (1966), Balkan Cowboy, suite for symphonic-pop orchestra (1969), The Touchstone of Isaac for piano and symphony orchestra (1975), Rhapsody "Orpheus for piano and symphony orchestra (1988), The Green House, jazz cantata (1988), chamber music, piano music and music for 12 movie films. Milcho Leviev died in Thessaloniki, Greece. He is the brother of the painter Ioan Leviev (1934-1994).