Mel Lewis
Although he was generally reluctant to solo, Mel Lewis was considered one of the definitive big band drummers, a musician who was best at driving an orchestra, but could also play quite well with smaller units. He started playing professionally when he was 15 and worked with the big bands of Boyd Raeburn (1948), Alvino Rey, Ray Anthony, and Tex Beneke. Lewis gained a great deal of recognition in the jazz world for his work with Stan Kenton (1954-1957), making the large ensemble swing hard. In 1957, he settled in Los Angeles, became a studio drummer, and worked with the big bands of Terry Gibbs and Gerald Wilson. Lewis went to New York to play with Gerry Mulligan's Concert Jazz Band in 1960, and he toured Europe with Dizzy Gillespie (1961) and the Soviet Union with Benny Goodman (1962). In 1965, Lewis formed an orchestra in New York with Thad Jones which grew to be one of the top big bands in jazz. When Jones surprised everyone by suddenly fleeing to Europe in 1979, Lewis became the orchestra's sole leader, playing regularly each Monday night at the Village Vanguard until his death. Lewis recorded as a leader in the 1950s for San Francisco Jazz Records, Mode (reissued on V.S.O.P.), and Andex and, after Thad Jones left their orchestra, Lewis recorded with his big band for Atlantic, Telarc, and Music Masters.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
Discography
21 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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Live At The Village Vanguard
Mel Lewis, Bob Brookmeyer, Clark Terry
Jazz - Released by Gryphon Records on 1 Jan 1991
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Live At The Village Vanguard (Live)
Jazz - Released by Blue Note Records on 1 Jun 1967
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Live On Tour Switzerland (Live)
Jazz - Released by LRC Ltd. - Groove Merchant Records on 1 Jan 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Consummation (Remixed & Remastered 1994)
Jazz - Released by Blue Note Records on 1 Jan 1970
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Central Park North
Jazz - Released by Blue Note Records on 1 Jan 1969
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mel Lewis & the Jazz Orchestra Play the Compositions of Herbie Hancock Live in Montreux
Jazz - Released by MPS on 1 Jan 2016
24-Bit 88.2 kHz - Stereo -
Thad Jones, Mel Lewis & UMO
Pop - Released by WM Finland on 14 Jun 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Jimmy Witherspoon at the Renaissance
Jimmy Witherspoon, Jerry Mulligan, Ben Webster
Jazz - Released by HIFI Records on 6 Jul 1960
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mel Lewis Septet (Got 'Cha) & Sextet
Jazz - Released by Fresh Sound Records on 26 Apr 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jimmy Witherspoon at the Renaissance (Live)
Jimmy Witherspoon, Jerry Mulligan, Ben Webster
Jazz - Released by HIFI Records on 6 Jul 1960
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Thad Jones & Mel Lewis Orchestra
Jazz - Released by LRC Ltd. - Groove Merchant Records on 17 Jun 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mel Lewis & The Jazz Orchestra (Original)
Jazz - Released by Gryphon on 6 Jan 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Lost Art
Bebop - Released by Jazz Heritage Society on 8 Apr 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
All Star Parade of Jazz and Blues Legends, Vol. 7 - The Big Bands
Jazz - Released by LRC Ltd. - Groove Merchant Records on 7 Jan 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Frankenstein vs. The Creature from Blood Cove (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Film Soundtracks - Released by Lakeshore Records on 5 Aug 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sandcastles
Alternative & Indie - Released by 4682419 Records DK on 23 Mar 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
House of the Rising Sun (There is a House)
Rock - Released by 4682419 Records DK on 31 Dec 1925
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Outside Looking In
Alternative & Indie - Released by 4682419 Records DK on 21 Jul 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jazz Delivery
Hacke Bjorksten, Mel Lewis, Ulf Johansson Werre
Jazz - Released by Beaver Records on 1 Jan 1988
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Xmas Jingle
Christmas Music - Released by 4682419 Records DK on 7 Dec 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo