Jazz artist Allegra Levy’s voice has verve and warmth when she sings and composes such moving songs on her debut record LONELY CITY. Levy produced a follow-up album titled CITIES BETWEEN US. But her third release in 2018, LOOKING AT THE MOON was named an Editor’s Pick in both JazzTimes and Downbeat Magazine, according to Levy’s Website.

There are not many artists who would delve into penning tunes such as Noodles! as well as I Got A Boo-Boo, and other children’s songs that she gained while being employed in pre-school education in Manhattan. Levy creates moving songs and her new record, OUT OF THE QUESTION, features an all-female powerhouse trio, which includes Carmen Staaf on piano, Carmen Rothwell on bass, and Colleen Clark on drums, with guest artist John McNeil contributing cameos on trumpet. In this interview Levy shares what drew her to jazz music and what makes the melodies artful on her current CD.

Jazz musician Allegra Levy answered the following question -- if she was alone on a desert island which five CDs would she most want with her.

1. Artist: Nancy Wilson & Cannonball Adderley
CD Title: Nancy Wilson & Cannonball Adderley (1962)

2. Artist: Ella Fitzgerald
CD Title: (Impossible to choose one but if I had to..) Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Gershwin Songbook

3. Artist: Joni Mitchell
CD Title: Blue

4. Artist: Nancy King & Fred Hersch
CD Title: Live at the Jazz Standard

5. Artist: Carmen McRae or Shirley Horn
CD Title: Bittersweet (1964) or Embers and Ashes (impossible to choose!)