Home » Jazz Articles » ELEW (Eric Lewis): And to the Republic

ELEW (Eric Lewis): And to the Republic

By Mark F. Turner
October 12, 2016
Sign in to view read count

Appearances on television (America's Got Talent) and information conferences (TED Talks) have labeled pianist Eric Lewis (aka ELEW) as the next crossover artist who boldly shunned the establishment combining pop and rock music with improvisation. Yet underneath that flamboyant stage persona is the heart of bona fide jazz musician who won the Thelonious Monk International Piano Competition and has performed with jazz luminaries Elvin Jones, Wynton Marsalis, and Jeff Tain Watts and bassist Reginald Veal. It's a striking showcase of trio dynamic and Lewis's repertoire from hearty swing ("Medicine Man"), hyperactive rhythms ("Ornette") and unique yet memorable covers (Swedish electronic duo The Knife's "Heartbeats").

The program runs the gamut of thundering crescendos in "Quirkwork" where Tain obliterates the kit or delicate nuance in the appealing "Jamaica Girl." Veal weaves the iconic bass line of "My Favorite Things" while Lewis's piano reaches incredible spaces in a fresh rendition of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic. The most striking effort is the title track as the trio brings dramatic imprints to actor Harry Lennix's resounding recitation of Mark Antony's speech from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. Yet it's back to the streets in "The Philly Groove" with plenty of soul and a heavy backbeat. The ELEW trio does it all quite impressively. This jazz rocks.

Track Listing

Medicine Man; Ornette; Lil Luba; Tones For Elvin Jones; Heartbeats (The Knife); Quirkwork; Jamaica Girl; And To The Republic: Act 3, Scene 2 Of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar ;Monk; My Favorite Things; The Philly Groove.

Personnel

ELEW: piano; Reginald Veal: bass; Jeff "Tain" Watts: drums.

Album information

Title: And to the Republic | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Sunnyside Records

Post a comment about this album

FOR THE LOVE OF JAZZ

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

WE NEED YOUR HELP

To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.