While often associated with the students of Lennie Tristano since many of them have been her teachers (including Connie Crothers), Dori Levine has a style and conception of her own. Early on, Levine sang with her friends along to vocal group recordings, trying to figure out the harmonies. She also was a singer-guitarist who performed blues and folk music. While attending college as an art student, she heard Annie Hurwitz sing swing standards with pianist Brooks Kerr and was inspired to study the records of Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and eventually Betty Carter.