Lewis, John
John Lewis played a crucial role in the world of jazz throughout his lifetime. Beginning studies on piano at age 7, Lewis developed a deep seeded love for classical music, specifically the music of J.S. Bach. Studying piano at the Manhattan School of Music, Lewis became involved in the burgeoning bebop scene of the late 1940s, playing a crucial role as pianist and arranger for Dizzy Gillespie's big bands during this time. He also served these roles on Miles Davis' "Birth of the Cool" sessions in 1949.
In 1952, Lewis organized the group he would become most affiliated with for the rest of his life, the Modern Jazz Quartet. Serving as a logical outgrowth of the rhythm section of Gillespie's band, Lewis served as the group's pianist and primary composer. His writing sought to bridge the gap between jazz and classical, incorporating baroque-style counterpoint and harmony while still maintaining the rhythmic developments of bebop. The MJQ would continue to tour to much acclaim for the next fifty years.
Outside of the MJQ, Lewis served as artistic director for many musical and educational outlets. While serving as the head of the Lenox School of Jazz, he was responsible for discovering alto saxophonist Ornette Coleman. His educational pursuits also led him to join the faculty of City College of New York and Harvard in the 1970s. Lewis also did significant work in film; his most notable work in this field was his sounddtrack to the 1959 film "Odds Against Tomorrow," which was released both in soundtrack form and a slimmed-down MJQ form.
Lewis continued to perform in a wide variety of settings until his passing in 2001.
BIRTH OF THE COOL JAZZ LINES PUBLICATIONS SERIES: COMPLETE SET OF TEN ARRANGEMENTS
Recorded by Miles Davis
Ten Jazz Small Group Arrangements
Jazz Lines Publications
JLP-1004
$485.00
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BIRTH OF THE COOL JAZZ LINES PUBLICATIONS SERIES: COMPLETE SET OF TEN ARRANGEMENTS [DOWNLOAD]
Recorded by Miles Davis
Ten Jazz Small Group Arrangements
Jazz Lines Publications
JLP-1004DL
$485.00
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Recorded by the Miles Davis Nonet
Jazz Nonet Arrangement [6 Horns with Rhythm Section]
Jazz Lines Publications
JLP-8057DL
$55.00
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Recorded by the Dizzy Gillespie Big Band
Jazz Big Band Arrangement
Jazz Lines Publications
JLP-7175DL
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