John Lewis: Biography

• Overview
• Discography
• Biography
• Related Artists

• Dave Brubeck
• Bill Evans
• Billy Taylor
• George Russell
• Gil Evans
• Roland Hanna
• Teo Macero

• Kenny Clarke
• Duke Ellington
• Johann Sebastian Bach
• Earl Hines
• Nat King Cole
• Count Basie
• Teddy Wilson

• Ramsey Lewis
• Benny Golson
• Horace Parlan
• Herbie Nichols
• Mal Waldron
• Toshiko Akiyoshi
• Ronnell Bright

• American Jazz Orchestra
• The Modern Jazz Quartet

Born:

May 3, 1920 in La Grange, IL

Died:

Mar 29, 2001 in New York, NY

Genres:

Classical Music, Jazz Music, Bop Jazz Music, Cool Jazz Music

Decades Active:

1940's|1950's|1960's|1970's|1980's|1990's|2000's

Artistic Quality

High

Cultural Impact

High

Popularity

High

Ratings Guide

The musical director of the Modern Jazz Quartet for its entire history, John Lewis found the perfect outlet for his interest in bop, blues, and Bach. Possessor of a "cool" piano style that (like Count Basie's) makes every note count, Lewis with the MJQ has long helped make jazz look respectable to the classical music community without watering down his performances.

After serving in the military, Lewis was in the Dizzy Gillespie big band (19461948). He recorded with Charlie Parker during 19471948 (including "Parker's Mood"), and played with Miles Davis' Birth of the Cool Nonet, arranging "Move" and "Rouge." He worked with Illinois Jacquet (19481949) and Lester Young (19501951), and appeared on many recordings during the era. In 1951, Lewis recorded with the Milt Jackson Quartet which by 1952 became the Modern Jazz Quartet. Lewis' musical vision was fulfilled with the MJQ and he composed many pieces, with "Django" being the bestknown. In addition to constantly touring with the MJQ during 19521974, Lewis wrote the film scores to Odds Against Tomorrow, No Sun in Venice, and A Milanese Story, recorded as a leader (including the 1956 cool classic "Two Degrees East, Three Degrees West," collaborations with Gunther Schuller, and records with Svend Asmussen and Albert Mangelsdorff), and worked with Orchestra U.S.A. in the mid'60s. When the MJQ broke up in 1974, Lewis worked as an educator and occasionally recorded as a leader. With the MJQ's rebirth in 1981, he has resumed his former role as its guiding spirit. Most of John Lewis' own projects were recorded for Atlantic.

- Scott Yanow, All Music Guide