b. Rodney Charles Levitt, 16 September 1929, Portland, Oregon, USA. A regular trombone player in studio orchestras, Levitt first attracted attention in the jazz world through a job with Dizzy Gillespie, with whose big band he played in 1956. Apart from Gillespie, he also recorded with big bands led by Ernie Wilkins, Sy Oliver and Gil Evans. In the early 60s, he recorded with his own octet which included Bill Berry and Rolf Ericson but was most often heard on big band sessions under leaders such as Quincy Jones, Oliver Nelson and the Chuck Israels’ National Jazz Ensemble. Apart from his sound playing ability, Levitt is also a gifted arranger. (NB: Not to be confused with the jazz guitarist of the same name).