Home » Jazz Musicians » Mel Lewis
Mel Lewis
Lewis, best known for his small group approach to big band drumming, was one of the first drummers to vary the ride cymbal beat, giving the music a loose and swinging feel. His commanding presence never dominated the spotlight and always stressed the interplay between the band members. "How much you stick in depends on how much you can hear," Lewis explained, "and if you're really hearing, you'll put in only what's necessary." Mel Lewis was born Melvin Sokoloff in Buffalo, New York to Russian immigrant parents. His father was a drummer in the Buffalo area who inspired his son to follow in his footsteps from an early age. Still in his mid-teens, young Lewis played with nationally known jazz musicians Harold Austin and Lenny Lewis. Early credits also include stints with Bernie Burns (1946), Boyd Raeburn (1948), Alvino Rey (1948-9), Ray Anthony (1949-50, 1953-54), and Tex Beneke (1950-53). In 1954 he joined Stan Kenton's band, playing alongside such musicians as Jimmy Giuffre, Maynard Ferguson, Laurindo Almeida, Vido Musso, and vocalist June Christy. During his three-year tenure with Kenton, Lewis also worked and recorded with the Frank Rosolino quintet and the Hampton Hawes Trio. In 1957, Lewis settled in Los Angeles where he led a quintet with another ex-Kenton sideman, saxophonist Bill Holman. He worked with the big bands of Gerald Wilson and Terry Gibbs, recording with the latter between 1959-62. The early 1960's saw Lewis in New York with the Gerry Mulligan Concert Jazz Band, in Europe with Dizzy Gillespie, and in Russia with Benny Goodman. Lewis moved to New York in 1963 and formed a big band with trumpeter Thad Jones two years later. The Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra performed and recorded extensively, garnering rave reviews and awards. Their performance on the album “Live in Munich” earned them a Grammy Award in 1979. The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, played some of the most progressive big band charts since the swing era. The band had its own unique style, along the lines of big band swing, bebop, and hardbop. The sound was powerful, fast, intellectual, and fun. After twelve productive years, Jones left for Europe and Lewis assumed sole leadership of the band. With the departure of Jones, the Kansas City-born trombonist / pianist / arranger Bob Brookmeyer assisted in the musical direction of the Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra. Lewis established a residency at the prestigious Village Vanguard in New York City which spanned over two decades. He performed there until one month prior to his death in 1990. Mel Lewis was the recipient of numerous awards, including fourteen Grammy nominations from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, with one win in '79. Lewis authored a drumming method book It's Time for the Big Band Drummer (Kendor Music Co., 1978) and taught workshops on jazz drumming at William Patterson State College in New Jersey.
Read moreTags
The View from the Back of the Band: The Life and Music of Mel Lewis
by Chris Smith
The following is an excerpt from “Chapter 13: Opening Night at the Village Vanguard" of The View from the Back of the Band: The Life and Music of Mel Lewis by Chris Smith (University of North Texas Press, 2014). In November of 1965, Thad and Mel quickly put together a list of the musicians they wanted for their band. While Thad had certain friends at CBS that he wanted to hire, and Mel had musicians he wanted, ...
read moreMel Lewis Jazz Orchestra: The Definitive Thad Jones
by George Kanzler
Recorded in 1988, over two decades after the creation of the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra and a decade after Jones left the band, this is also its last recording under Lewis' helm (he died two years later, 20 years ago in February, 2010). As such, it reflects Lewis' concept as well as his and the band's adaptations of Jones' charts. The instrumentation is also different than both the early incarnation and today's Vanguard Jazz Orchestra--the brass including two bass ...
read moreThad Jones-Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra: Consummation
by C. Andrew Hovan
When it came to progressive big bands during the '60s, few ensembles could boast the kind of staying power and muscle of the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra. With some of the biggest names in the business as part of the ensemble's regular roster and the uniformly exceptional output of writer Thad Jones, this band was successful at a time when economics were making it hard for even established organizations to stay afloat. Unfortunately, the great legacy of the Thad ...
read moreThad Jones-Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra: Consummation
by Jack Bowers
This charming reissue from 1970 makes it even harder to accept the fact that Thad and Mel are no longer with us. Thank goodness we have such glorious music to remember them by. All of the compositions and arrangements are Jones,' and each one is an unpretentious classic of its kind. The orchestra itself is beyond reproach, with sharp and explosive brass and reeds complementing its unrivaled rhythm section (Lewis, pianist Roland Hanna, bassist Richard Davis). There's less ...
read moreThad Jones/Mel Lewis: Groove Merchant
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra was one of the last great big bands. Formed in 1965, the orchestra played Monday nights at New York's Village Vanguard and recorded and toured extensively, including a swing through the Soviet Union in 1972. When Jones decided to move to Copenhagen in 1978, the band became known as the Mel Lewis Orchestra. When Lewis died in 1990, it became the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. The band won two Grammys, one in 1979 and the other ...
read more
Thad Jones/Mel Lewis: 1966
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra is considered by many to be the last great virtuoso big band. Launched in 1966 at the Village Vanguard, the orchestra was loaded with superstars and stylists and featured many arrangements by Thad Jones. The early lineup included Jones and Lewis along with pianist Hank Jones, saxophonists Jerome Richardson, Jerry Dodgion and Joe Farrell; trumpeters Jimmy Nottingham, Danny Stiles and Snooky Young; valve trombonist Bob Brookmeyer and others. I've always been on the fence about ...
read more
Mel Lewis: 'Got'cha'
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
Yesterday I told you about Trigger Alpert's fabulous first leadership album in October 1956. Today, it's drummer Mel Lewis's turn. His first album under his own name was Got'cha, recorded for the San Francisco Jazz label in November 1956. Prior to '56, drummer Lewis was a big-band guy, starting with Ray Anthony's band in 1949. He then moved on to Tex Beneke in '51, back to Anthony from '53 to the summer of '54 before joining Stan Kenton in September ...
read more
Weeklong Tribute to Thad Jones and Mel Lewis at the Village Vanguard
Source:
All About Jazz
THE VANGUARD JAZZ ORCHESTRA: THAD JONES / MEL LEWIS: 40 YEARS AFTER
A week-long tribute to Thad Jones and Mel Lewis at the Village Vanguard. Special guests will include Slide Hampton, Jon Faddis and Tom Harrell. The week will also include premiers of new music, archival finds and a preview of the new VJO/Jim McNeely CD.
Monday May 9, 2005 THE DEFINITIVE THAD JONES An All Thad Jones night featuring music that defined a new era ...
read more
The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra: Thad Jones / Mel Lewis: 40 Years After, May 9 - 15 at The Village Vanguard
Source:
All About Jazz
THE VANGUARD JAZZ ORCHESTRA in collaboration with PLANET ARTS, SIXTEEN AS ONE MUSIC INC. and THE VILLAGE VANGUARD PRESENT THAD JONES / MEL LEWIS 40 YEARS AFTER May 9 through May 15 - 2005
Celebrate four decades of innovative jazz orchestra music with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra in a special week-long tribute to Thad Jones and Mel Lewis at the Village Vanguard. Special guests will include Slide Hampton, Jon Faddis and Tom Harrell. The week will also ...
read more
Rich Thompson
drums
The Ed Palermo Big Band
band / ensemble / orchestra
Marcello Carelli
drums
Steve Fidyk
drumsJoel Baer
drums
Daniel Ferreira
drums
Paul Hannah
drumsMusic
Similar
Art Farmer
flugelhorn
McCoy Tyner
piano
Buddy Rich
drums
Gene Krupa
drums
Jim Hall
guitar
Chick Webb
drums
Gary Burton
vibraphone
Clark Terry
trumpet
George Russell
composer / conductor
Joe Morello
drums
Woody Shaw
trumpet
Roy Haynes
drums
Peter Erskine
drums
Stefon Harris
vibraphone
Ravi Coltrane
saxophone, tenor
Herbie Nichols
piano
Mel Lewis
Instrument: Drums
Born: May 10, 1929
Died: February 2, 1990
