John Lewis
The musical director of the Modern Jazz Quartet for its entire history, John Lewis found the perfect outlet for his interest in bop, blues, and Bach. Possessor of a "cool" piano style that (like Count Basie's) makes every note count, Lewis with the MJQ has long helped make jazz look respectable to the classical music community without watering down his performances.
After serving in the military, Lewis was in the Dizzy Gillespie big band (1946-1948). He recorded with Charlie Parker during 1947-1948 (including "Parker's Mood"), and played with Miles Davis' Birth of the Cool Nonet, arranging "Move" and "Rouge." He worked with Illinois Jacquet (1948-1949) and Lester Young (1950-1951), and appeared on many recordings during the era. In 1951, Lewis recorded with the Milt Jackson Quartet which by 1952 became the Modern Jazz Quartet. Lewis' musical vision was fulfilled with the MJQ and he composed many pieces, with "Django" being the best-known. In addition to constantly touring with the MJQ during 1952-1974, Lewis wrote the film scores to Odds Against Tomorrow, No Sun in Venice, and A Milanese Story, recorded as a leader (including the 1956 cool classic "Two Degrees East, Three Degrees West," collaborations with Gunther Schuller, and records with Svend Asmussen and Albert Mangelsdorff), and worked with Orchestra U.S.A. in the mid-'60s. When the MJQ broke up in 1974, Lewis worked as an educator and occasionally recorded as a leader. With the MJQ's rebirth in 1981, he has resumed his former role as its guiding spirit until his death in 2001. Most of Lewis' own projects were recorded for Atlantic.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
-
-
John Lewis
Humour/Spoken Word - Released by John Lewis Music on 31/03/2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Afternoon In Paris
French Music - Released by CGH Ventures Inc. on 1/01/1957
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Back to the Beginning Again
Jazz - Released by Musical Thirds Records on 12/09/2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Afternoon In Paris (Digitally Re-mastered)
French Music - Released by CGH Ventures Inc. on 1/01/1957
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
A Milanese Story (Original Film Soundtrack)
Film Soundtracks - Released by Stage Door on 17/01/1962
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Dear Old Stockholm
Jazz - Released by Supreme Media on 1/01/1957
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
I Can't Get Started
Jazz - Released by Supreme Media on 1/02/2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
-
The Beat
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by Core Digital Media Group Inc on 19/04/2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jazz Collection (Original Recordings)
Jazz - Released by Jazz Dog Records on 10/04/2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dear Old Stockholm
Jazz - Released by Firefly Entertainment on 1/01/1957
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
John Lewis - Platinum Selection
Jazz - Released by Retro Music Box on 22/09/2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
No Smoke
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by Core Digital Media Group Inc on 12/04/2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
-
Jazz in the Movies, Vol. 16: Odds Against Tomorrow
Jazz - Released by Top Tracks on 10/10/2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Quality Jazz Stars (Superb Selection of Real Jazz)
Jazz - Released by Jazz 2 Jazz Records on 16/02/2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo