Articles by Chris Smith
Book Excerpts
The View from the Back of the Band: The Life and Music of Mel Lewis
![Read "The View from the Back of the Band: The Life and Music of Mel Lewis" reviewed by Chris Smith](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/0d9ad4666caaec52cc9570715df4d722.jpg)
by Chris Smith
The following is an excerpt from Chapter 13: Opening Night at the Village Vanguard" of The View from the Back of the Band: The Life and Music of Mel Lewis by Chris Smith (University of North Texas Press, 2014). In November of 1965, Thad and Mel quickly put together a list of the musicians they wanted for their band. While Thad had certain friends at CBS that he wanted to hire, and Mel had musicians he wanted, ...
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