Howard Levy, two-time Grammy Award-winner, is an acknowledged master of the diatonic harmonica, pianist, innovative composer, educator, and producer. At the age of 19, he discovered how to play the diatonic harmonica as a fully chromatic instrument by developing techniques on it that had never existed before. This enabled Howard to take the harmonica out of its usual role as a folk and blues instrument, and into the worlds of jazz, classical, Middle Eastern music, and more. His discovery unlocked infinite possibilities for the harmonica world.
At home in many musical styles, he is a favorite with audiences worldwide and a recording artist sought after by Kenny Loggins, Dolly Parton, Paquito D’Rivera, Styx, Donald Fagen, Paul Simon, and many others. Howard has appeared on hundreds of CDs and several movie soundtracks, most prominently on A Family Thing with Robert Duval and James Earl Jones.
Howard has released 20 albums under his own name, capturing his versatility and innovation as a musician and composer. His solo album Alone and Together and his trio album Tonight and Tomorrow each received four-star reviews in DownBeat. Howard also recorded a classical CD featuring his Concerto for Diatonic Harmonica and Orchestra—the first true concerto composed for the instrument. His recent composition, Eastern European Harmonica and Piano Concerto for Single Soloist, premieres in 2026.
As an educator, Howard has taught at leading universities and conservatories, and online for TrueFire/ArtistWorks. His two volumes of Rhythms of the Breath are the first books of their kind to apply drum rudiments to harmonica breathing patterns, enlightening players around the world.
Howard tours as a solo artist, with Trio Globo, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, and his band, The Howard Levy 4.
October 4 @ 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm
The Greenwich Village Folk Festival: Live 40th Anniversary Concert