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Jazz Articles about Victor Lewis
John Bailey: Can You Imagine?
by Dan Bilawsky
The world loves a good “what if..." story, so why not explore the idea of Dizzy Gillespie as president? The famed trumpeter actually ran for the highest office in the land in 1964. And though the move was largely in jest, he didn't shy away from the issues of the day while campaigning. Sadly, many of the same problems that Gillespie explored still plague the United States, but trumpeter John Bailey doesn't get weighed down by that sobering sadness—or pure ...
Continue ReadingVictor Lewis: The Drummer's Spirit
by Victor L. Schermer
For several decades, Victor Lewis has been one of the most in-demand drummers of the post-bop era and beyond. He has performed with Stan Getz, Dexter Gordon, J.J. Johnson, Chet Baker, George Cables, Woody Shaw, Kenny Barron, Bobby Watson, and others of similar stature. On account of his exceptional ability to push the envelope of musical grace in a variety of contexts, he often becomes their drummer of choice for extended tours and engagements. Other drummers consider him a role ...
Continue ReadingMiki Hayama: Wide Angle
by Lyn Horton
Miki Hayama establishes an identifiable cadence in her piano language in Wide Angle. Her trio behaves as one organism; Hayama offers the fearless heartbeat. Hayama composed eight of the ten pieces on the recording. The rigorous tempos, even when moderate, bond the three instruments. The precision with which Hayama addresses the piano demonstrates her fascination with the minutest detail. Her strength lies in the quality of her treble arpeggiation ("What's Next") through which progressions she plants bass ...
Continue ReadingG.Org: A New Kind of Blue
by John Kelman
Paying homage can be risky business, especially when the source is as seminal as Miles Davis' classic Kind of Blue. Comparisons are not just begged, they're expected. And how can anyone hope to capture the same magic? Or the confluence of events that put Davis, Julian “Cannonball" Adderley, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers and Jimmy Cobb together to create one of the greatest jazz albums of all time, an album that changed the face of music and ...
Continue ReadingVictor Lewis/J.D. Allen/Fabio Morgera: Red Stars
by AAJ Staff
The leaders of this excellent album all record for the Italian Red Records label, hence the title, Red Stars. However, the album is essentially Fabio Morgera's conception. He produced it, and it was his idea to merge straight-ahead, swinging jazz with some electronic elements, and on Eric Lewis' tune “Jennifer," a pronounced backbeat. Those purists who insist on limiting jazz only to acoustic instruments probably aren't going to like Morgera's electronically altered trumpet, but other listeners should dig the great ...
Continue ReadingVictor Lewis: EEEYYESS!
by Rick Bruner
Victor Lewis is one of today’s finest drummers. His talents were recognized early on as he performed with some of the greatest players. Dexter Gordon, Woody Shaw, and Stan Getz have all taken advantage of his skills. He also co-led the band Horizon with Bobby Watson, one of the finest working bands in the past decade. Victor Lewis is also an excellent composer and six of his tunes appear on EEEYYESS!. If, like me, you have missed the music of ...
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