George Lewis
George Lewis never tried to be a virtuoso soloist. He loved to play melodic ensembles where his distinctive clarinet was free to improvise as simply as he desired. When Lewis was inspired and in tune, he could hold his own with any of his contemporaries in New Orleans and he always sounded beautiful playing his "Burgundy Street Blues." To everyone's surprise (including himself), he became one of the most popular figures of the New Orleans revival movement of the 1950s.
It took Lewis a long time to achieve fame. He taught himself clarinet when he was 18 and worked in the '20s with the Black Eagle Band, Buddy Petit, the Eureka Brass Band, Chris Kelly, Kid Ory, the Olympia Orchestra, and other New Orleans groups. He played with Bunk Johnson in Evan Thomas' group in the early '30s but had a day job throughout most of the decade. When Bunk was discovered in 1942, Lewis became part of his band, playing with him Johnson, however, was difficult to get along with and a homesick Lewis returned to New Orleans by 1946. He played locally with his own group (featuring trombonist Jim Robinson) and in 1950 was portrayed in an article for Look. That exposure led to him recording regularly, and by 1952, Lewis was in such great demand that he was soon working before crowds in California and touring Europe and Japan. In addition to Robinson, Lewis' band in its prime years often featured trumpeter Kid Howard, pianist Alton Purnell, banjoist Lawrence Marrero, bassist Alcide "Slow Drag" Pavageau, and drummer Joe Watkins. George Lewis, who recorded for many labels (a Mosaic box set of his Blue Note sessions is one of the best reissues), became a symbol of what was right and wrong about the New Orleans revival movement, overpraised by his fans and overcritized by his detractors. At his best he was well worth hearing.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
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At The Club Hangover, San Francisco 1953 Vol 1
Jazz - Released by Storyville Records on 20 Feb 1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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The Solo Trombone Record
Jazz - Released by Sackville on 1 Jan 1976
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
On Stage and At Newport
Jazz - Released by Upbeat Jazz on 27 Nov 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Perennial George Lewis
Jazz - Released by CoolNote on 1 Jan 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
George Lewis Bands, Trios & Quintets
Jazz - Released by American Music on 9 Dec 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
George Lewis: Assemblage
Classical - Released by New World Records on 8 Sep 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Perennial George Lewis
Dixieland - Released by Music Manager on 7 Feb 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Steve Angrum or George Lewis with Kid Sheik's Band
Jazz - Released by American Music on 27 Jun 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Peter Bocage at San Jacinto Hall
Jazz - Released by GHB on 16 Feb 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rainbow Family
Alternative & Indie - Released by Carrier Records on 30 Oct 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Live! Concert
Jazz - Released by Vintage Masters Inc. on 1 Mar 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
George Lewis Closer Walk
Jazz - Released by Alpha Center Digital on 14 Oct 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Hexis
George Lewis, The Monash Art Ensemble
Classical - Released by Jazzhead on 6 Jun 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Jazz Clarinetist
Jazz - Released by Music Manager on 22 Jun 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Greatest Hits Collection
Jazz - Released by Music Manager on 16 Apr 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Keeper of the Flame: In New Orleans (Pt. 5)
Jazz - Released by Storyville on 21 Jan 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Jazzology Poll Winners 1964
Jazz - Released by GHB on 19 Dec 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo