Mel Lewis

Melvin Sokoloff (May 10, 1929 – February 2, 1990), known professionally as Mel Lewis, was an American jazz drummer, session musician, professor, and author. He received fourteen Grammy Award nominations.

Mel Lewis
Mel Lewis performing in 1978
Background information
Birth nameMelvin Sokoloff
Born(1929-05-10)May 10, 1929
Buffalo, New York, U.S.
DiedFebruary 2, 1990(1990-02-02) (aged 60)
New York City
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentsDrums
Years active1954–1990
LabelsAtlantic, Blue Note, VSOP, Solid State, Nimbus, Telarc, A&M, Philadelphia International
Associated actsThe Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, Stan Kenton, Woody Herman

Biography

Early years

Lewis was born in Buffalo, New York, to Russian-Jewish immigrant parents Samuel and Mildred Sokoloff. He started playing professionally as a teen, eventually joining Stan Kenton in 1954. His musical career brought him to Los Angeles in 1957 and New York City in 1963.[1]

Career

In 1966 in New York, he teamed up with Thad Jones to lead the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra. The group started as informal jam sessions with the top studio and jazz musicians of the city, but eventually began performing regularly on Monday nights at the famed venue, the Village Vanguard.[1] In 1979, the band won a Grammy for their album Live in Munich.[2] Like all of the musicians in the band, it was only a sideline. In 1976, he released an album titled Mel Lewis and Friends that featured him leading a smaller sextet that allowed freedom and improvisation.[3]

When Jones moved to Denmark in 1978, the band became known as Mel Lewis and the Jazz Orchestra.[1] Lewis continued to lead the band, recording and performing every Monday night at the Village Vanguard until shortly before his death from cancer at age 60. The band still performs on most Monday nights at the club. Today, it is known as the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra and has released several CDs.[4]

Playing style and approach

Lewis's cymbal work was considered unique among many musicians.[5] Of his style, drummer Buddy Rich had remarked: "Mel Lewis doesn't sound like anybody else. He sounds like himself."[5]

Lewis insisted on playing genuine Turkish-made cymbals, switching from the Zildjian Company later in his career to the Istanbul brand.[5] His setup included a 21-inch ride on his right, a 19-inch crash-ride on his left, and his signature sound, a 22-inch swish "knocker" with rivets on his far right. The rather lightweight cymbals exuded a dark, overtone-rich sound. Lewis' wood-shell drums were considered warm and rich in their sound. He almost exclusively played a Gretsch drums set, although in later years, played Slingerland drums equipped with natural calfskin top heads. Regular mylar heads were used on the bottom.[5] Lewis described a playing philosophy of not "pushing or pulling" but "supporting." "If you watch me, it doesn't look like I'm doing much," he remarked in an interview.[6]

Declining health and death

In the late 1980s, Lewis was diagnosed with melanoma. It was identified in his arm, then surfaced in his lungs, and ultimately went to his brain. He died on February 2, 1990, just days before his band was to celebrate its 24th anniversary at the Village Vanguard.[5]

Discography

Mel Lewis and the Orchestra
  • Naturally, (Telarc, 1979)
  • Live in Montreux: Mel Lewis Plays Herbie Hancock, (MPS/Pausa, 1980))
  • Live at the Village Vanguard...Featuring the Music of Bob Brookmeyer, (1980)
  • Mel Lewis and the Jazz Orchestra, (Finesse, 1982)
  • 20 Years at the Village Vanguard, (Atlantic, 1985)
  • The Definitive Thad Jones, Live from the Village Vangard, (Nimbus, 1988)
  • Definitive Thad Jones, Vol. 1, (MusicMasters, 1988)
  • Definitive Thad Jones, Vol. 2, (MusicMasters, 1988)
  • Soft Lights and Hot Music, (MusicMasters, 1988)
  • To You: A Tribute to Mel Lewis, (MusicMasters, 1990)

Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra
  • Opening Night (recorded 1966, released Alan Grant Presents, 2000)
  • Presenting Thad Jones / Mel Lewis and the Jazz Orchestra (Solid State, 1966)
  • Presenting Joe Williams and Thad Jones / Mel Lewis, The Jazz Orchestra (Solid State, 1966)
  • Live at the Village Vanguard (Solid State, 1967)
  • The Big Band Sound of Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Featuring Miss Ruth Brown (Solid State, 1968)
  • Monday Night (Solid State, 1968)
  • Central Park North (Solid State, 1969)
  • Basle, 1969 (recorded 1969, released TCB, 1996)
  • Consummation (Solid State/Blue Note, 1970)
  • Live in Tokyo (Denon, 1974)
  • Potpourri (Philadelphia International, 1974)
  • Thad Jones / Mel Lewis and Manuel De Sica (Pausa, 1974)
  • Suite for Pops (Horizon/A&M, 1975)
  • New Life: Dedicated to Max Gordon (A&M, 1975)
  • Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra With Rhoda Scott aka Rhoda Scott in New York with... (1976)
  • Live in Munich (Horizon/A&M, 1976)
  • It Only Happens Every Time (1977) EMI – with Monica Zetterlund
  • Body and Soul aka Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra in Europe (1978) West Wind – Live in Berlin
  • A Touch of Class (West Wind, 1978)  – Live in Warsaw

Thad Jones Mel Lewis Quartet

Mel Lewis

Video
  • Jazz Casual – Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra... (recorded 1968) – a 1968 television appearance

Compilations

Jones and Lewis as guests with other orchestras

As sideman

With Pepper Adams

With Manny Albam

With Chet Baker

With Bob Brookmeyer

With Kenny Burrell

With Benny Carter

With Al Cohn

With Bob Cooper

With Hank Crawford and Jimmy McGriff

With Eddie Daniels

With Eric Dolphy

  • Live in Germany (Magnetic, 1961 / 1992)

With Maynard Ferguson

With Stan Getz

With Dizzy Gillespie

With Jimmy Hamilton

With Johnny Hodges

With Stan Kenton

With Jimmy Knepper

With Joe Lovano

With Johnny Mandel

With Herbie Mann

With Warne Marsh

With Jack McDuff

With Gary McFarland

With Jimmy McGriff

With James Moody

With Gerry Mulligan

With Anita O'Day

With Chico O'Farrill

With Shorty Rogers

With Pete Rugolo

With Sal Salvador

With Shirley Scott

With Bud Shank

  • Bud Shank - Shorty Rogers - Bill Perkins (Pacific Jazz, 1955)
  • New Groove (Pacific Jazz, 1961)

With Sonny Stitt

With Thad Jones/Pepper Adams Quintet

With Gerald Wilson

With Jimmy Witherspoon

Filmography

Concert performances
  • 1999: Jazz at the Smithsonian (Kultur Video)
  • 2003: Jazz Casual – Thad Jones & Mel Lewis and Woody Herman (Jazz Casual)
  • 2005: Jazz Masters Series – Mel Lewis and the Jazz Orchestra (Shanachie)
  • 2007: Mel Lewis and His Big Band (VIEW)[7]

Film

Sources
  1. All Music Guide to Jazz. Yanow, Scott (1996). Miller Freeman Books. ISBN 0-87930-407-3
  2. "'The Envelope' awards database". LA Times. Archived from the original on July 4, 2007. Retrieved April 30, 2008.
  3. Mel Lewis and Friends. All Music. Retrieved on May 12, 2019.
  4. 50 Years at the Village Vanguard: Thad Jones, Mel Lewis and the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. Lisik, Dave; Allen, Eric (2017). Skydeck Music. ISBN 978-0-69280-858-0
  5. Mel Lewis (May 10, 1929 - February 2, 1990). Drummer World. Retrieved on May 12, 2019.
  6. Mel Lewis – Straight Ahead Lewis. Modern Drummer. Retrieved on May 12, 2019.
  7. Artist: Lewis, Mel. "VIEW DVD Listing". View.com. Retrieved October 21, 2011.
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