I always thought of Pete Jolly [1932-2004] and Lou Levy [1928-2001] as the West Coast equivalents of Hank Jones and Tommy Flanagan - out of Bud Powell but with a gift for making Bop more lyrical in terms of the melodies they improvised in their solos.
The sound of Jazz that came out of their style of playing somehow seemed lighter, prettier, and happier and helped to create a mood of satisfaction and contentment when listening to it.
It also helped to provide a nice contrast to the aggressive and energetic horn solos often associated with Bop, especially the Hard Bop form of the music.
But none of this is intended to belittle Pete’s magnificent pianism as the speed and power of his technique were virtuosic. Pete was a bona fide two-handed piano player whose ability to express himself on the instrument was seemingly unlimited.
