Home » Jazz Articles » Greg Lewis

Jazz Articles about Greg Lewis

35
Album Review

Melvin Smith: Perseverance

Read "Perseverance" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Perseverance, Florida-bred saxophonist Melvin Smith's seventh album as leader of his own group, is a hard-blowing session on which he shows (again) that he is one of the leading bop-based reed masters on today's scene. On soprano or tenor, Smith displays a clarity of purpose and storehouse of astute phrases that serve him well at any pace and in any context. Besides alternating horns (tenor on seven numbers, soprano on four), Smith adds texture and variety to ...

3
Liner Notes

Organ Monk: Uwo In the Black

Read "Organ Monk: Uwo In the Black" reviewed by Howard Mandel


Organ Monk is the inspired--some might say “mad"--project of Brooklyn-based keyboardist Greg Lewis to play the unique compositions of Thelonious Monk as they've never been played before. Lewis throws down Monk's memorable turns of melody and digs into his harmonic insights, mostly at groovin' rhythms, on the Hammond C 3 organ. It's tempting to say Lewis' style on that inimitable instrument is “all stops out"--because he's more than mastered the complex multi-manual and foot-pedaled contraption. He's become an exciting innovator ...

2
Liner Notes

Greg Lewis' Organ Monk: American Standard

Read "Greg Lewis' Organ Monk: American Standard" reviewed by Howard Mandel


Thelonious Monk was an American original, a unique figure of his time and place. So is Greg Lewis, organist at the helm of Organ Monk, which on American Standard expands upon its mission of interpreting Monk's own compositions, just as Monk did himself. American Standard, Organ Monk's third album, takes up classic songs from the Tin Pan Alley songbook of the U.S.'s early 20th century. These tunes are recognized by virtually everyone raised in North America during the ...

18
Album Review

Gerry Eastman Trio: Trust Me

Read "Trust Me" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Trust Me embodies more than an hour of tasteful contemporary jazz by a decisively hip guitar/organ/drums trio led by New York-bred Gerry Eastman on guitar with Greg Lewis at the Hammond B3 and Taru Alexander manning the drum set. The program consists of eight of Eastman's original compositions, each of which is polished and credible but a step or two short of memorable. The same is true of solos, which are consistently sharp and steady while at the same time ...

6
Album Review

Gerry Eastman Trio: Trust Me

Read "Trust Me" reviewed by Richard J Salvucci


Right out of the gate, this is a great recording. Gerry Eastman is the moving force as guitarist, producer, arranger, and photographer. If you dig soul jazz and B3 organ trios, it is a safe bet that you will enjoy this session from start to finish. So many great sounds are conjured up: you hear Wes Montgomery, but Jimmy Ponder too. Charlie Earland and Richard Holmes must have gone into Greg Lewis' ears at some point, and of course, Jimmy ...

4
Album Review

Gregory Lewis: Organ Monk Blue

Read "Organ Monk Blue" reviewed by Jerome Wilson


Organist Gregory Lewis gained the nickname “Organ Monk" due to his specialization in the music of Thelonious Monk. Known for his exaggerated, florid playing, this is the third CD he's done of Monk's music and this time he has teamed up with a musician who can match him flourish for flourish, chameleon guitarist Marc Ribot. Lewis' grandiose organ style, with its long sustains and dramatic sweeps, is a force in its own right but Ribot makes things even ...

1
Album Review

Gregory Lewis: Organ Monk Blue

Read "Organ Monk Blue" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian


Pianist Thelonious Monk is organist Gregory Lewis' primary source of inspiration, so much so that Lewis has adopted the stage name Organ Monk. His first two releases were mostly homages to Monk and replete with the latter's originals. After forays into other material, including the poignant The Breathe Suite (Self Produced, 2017) about recent racial injustices that unnecessarily claimed young lives, Lewis returns to the “genius of modern music" with Organ Monk Blue. On the current album Lewis ...


Engage

Contest Giveaways
Enter our latest contest giveaway sponsored by Calligram Records
Polls & Surveys
Vote for your favorite musicians and participate in our brief surveys.
Publisher's Desk
How To Follow Staff Writers
Read on...

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.