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John Lewis

About Me

My Jazz Story

My father and brother were big jazz fans. Me? Not so much. Then I went to see the movie Round Midnight with Dexter Gordon and BAM! I loved his sax and my journey began. Hal Hill, a Jazz Music Store owner and excellent vendor of vinyl and CDs in Toronto at the time, would put stuff away for me that he thought I'd like without even asking me. That way, when I went back into his store he'd always have something he was excited to share with me. So, next came Coltrane, Webster, Coleman, Turrentine, Sonny Rollins, etc. My collection was growing. I was taking an interest in the trumpet too. I also started to love Jazz vocals and the big bands behind them— more to explore. Then I'd hear a guitar, or a flute, or an organ, that I thought was exciting. Hello Wes Montgomery, Herbie Mann, and Jimmy Smith. Then I heard Latin Jazz, and Afro-Jazz—more explorations. And so my journey continues. There is so much great stuff to discover. Great fun!