Lewis Barnes

Biography
Articles

I'm most directly influenced on my instrument by Miles Davis, Kenny Dorham, Booker Little, and Thad Jones. I create music with bassist William Parker's critically acclaimed quartet (which includes Rob Brown on saxophone and Hamid Drake on drums), The Raining On The Piano Group, which adds pianist Eri Yamamoto and vocalist Leena Conquest to the quartet. Also, I'm in the The Little Huey Orchestra, and The Inside The Songs of Curtis Mayfield project (with Amiri Baraka, Leena Conquest, Darryl Foster, Sabir Mateen, and Dave Burrell). I also contribute my trumpet to Greg Tate's collective Burnt Sugar, which includes a host of tremendous and outstanding musicians. I've also worked and/or recorded with saxophonist Jemeel Moondoc, guitarist Jean-Paul Bourelly, The Holmes Brothers, Norah Jones, drummer William Hooker, the JC Hopkins Biggish Band, Chris Becker, Noizland, and numerous other musical projects. I've written and recorded original music for two films by Actress/Cinematographer Sandye Wilson, "So Many Things to Consider" and "notsoprivatethoughts".

William Parker: Corn Meal Dance

Read "Corn Meal Dance" reviewed by Michael McCaw

by Michael McCaw
December 14, 2007

Steeped in the bedrock of the blues, hearkening back to sounds of Charles Mingus' Blues and Roots jazz, and featuring one of the more compelling and soulful voices in music today, Corn Meal Dance by bassist William Parker, is a complete package even if it takes a few listens to hear.With a few exceptions, lyrics in jazz are often straight forward and leave little to interpretation. And upon first listen here one might feel that the lyrics are ...

536

Album Review

William Parker: Corn Meal Dance

Read "Corn Meal Dance" reviewed by James Taylor

by James Taylor
December 2, 2007

William Parker's Corn Meal Dance showcases the enigmatic figure's best attributes--not as bassist but, instead, as band leader and poet. The release finds Parker again working with his Raining On The Moon Quintet, first featured on Raining On The Moon (Thirsty Ear, 2002). An overall more pop and blues-oriented record than some of Parker's more eclectic excursions, Corn Meal Dance is refreshing and Parker's words thought provoking.Joining Parker is Rob Brown (alto sax), Hamid Drake (drums), Lewis Barnes ...

327

Album Review

William Parker / Raining On The Moon: Corn Meal Dance

Read "Corn Meal Dance" reviewed by Glenn Astarita

by Glenn Astarita
October 19, 2007

New York bassist/composer/poet and bandleader William Parker stands tall among the crème de la crème of great musical minds and instrumentalists. Corn Meal Dance, featuring his group Raining On The Moon, further instills a mystical framework that seems to yield notions of a sense of oneness, regardless of ensemble size or musical direction. These qualities ring loud and clear on this downright beautiful jazz recording, designed with lyrical content that touches upon existentialism, spirituality and sociopolitical musings.

Vocalist ...

367

Album Review

William Parker / Raining On The Moon: Corn Meal Dance

Read "Corn Meal Dance" reviewed by Troy Collins

by Troy Collins
September 17, 2007

Bassist, composer, Vision Festival organizer and all-around Renaissance man William Parker is a man of many talents, from solo bass recitalist to big band leader. Raining On The Moon, his lyrical group, features the vocal talents of Leena Conquest, singing Parker's words like they were her own. Based on the same line-up as his long-standing quartet (altoist Rob Brown, trumpeter Lewis Barnes and drummer Hamid Drake), this variation featured on Corn Meal Dance adds a new voice, pianist Eri Yamamoto. ...