Ramsey Lewis

The Ramsey Lewis Trio, with bassist Eldee Young and percussionist Redd Holt, became a fixture on the Chicago jazz scene, releasing their debut album, Ramsey Lewis & His Gentlemen of Jazz, back in 1956.

Lewis earned his first gold record, as well as a Grammy award for Best Jazz Performance, for their swinging version of Dobie Gray’s hit “The In Crowd.” He returned to the pop charts in 1966 with versions of “Hang On Sloopy” and “Wade In The Water.” Throughout the years, Lewis’ trio has undergone membership changes, all the while staying true to Lewis’ high musical standards.

After Young and Holt left Lewis’ trio to form their own group, the pianist hired a new rhythm section with Cleveland Eaton on bass and Maurice White on drums. When White left the band to form Earth, Wind & Fire, Morris Jennings signed on as the trio’s new percussionist. White returned to produce Lewis’ 1974 smash album entitled Sun Goddess, in which Lewis first experimented with electronic keyboards and featured Earth, Wind & Fire on the album. In 1983, Lewis returned to the studio with Young and Holt for the album Reunion.

Throughout his illustrious career, Lewis who is a NEA Jazz Master, has also joined forces with countless other artists to create new and innovative music. In 1984, he collaborated with Nancy Wilson on The Two of Us, in 1988he recorded with London’s Philharmonic Orchestra for the album A Classic Encounter, and in 1989 Lewis and Dr. Billy Taylor cut a set of piano duets in We Meet Again. In 1995, Lewis launched the side project Urban Knights, in which he collaborated with a handful of successful crossover jazz stars, including Grover Washington, Jr., Earl Klugh, and Dave Koz. In 1997, Lewis added disc jockey to his resume, hosting a popular show on Chicago’s WNUA-FM that ran until 2009.

A new show was syndicated in 2006 under the name Legends of Jazz with Ramsey Lewis and was broadcast on jazz radio stations across the country. In 2006,a well-received 13-episode Legends of Jazz television series hosted by Lewis was broadcast by PBS on public TV nationwide and featured live performances by a variety of jazz artists including Larry Gray, Lonnie Smith, Joey Defrancesco, Dave Brubeck, Chick Corea, Kurt Elling, Benny Golson, Pat Metheny and Tony Bennett. Lately, Ramsey has been touring with Philip Bailey (Earth, Wind & Fire), John Pizzarelli and Ann Hampton Callaway.

Ramsey Lewis & Urban Knights: VII

by Phillip Woolever
November 17, 2019

Back in 1995, an executive named Carl Griffin at Ramsey Lewis' record label reportedly conceived the idea of forming a jazz “super group" around the well-established Chicago pianist. The resulting all-star project, deemed Urban Knights, featured Grover Washington Jr. and a rhythm section with Omar Hakim and bassist Victor Bailey, who'd worked together in the early '80s lineup of Weather Report. On five subsequent albums over the next quarter century, a rotating Urban Knights cast has showcased famous players and ...

Interview

Ramsey Lewis: Life is Good

by Jacob Blickenstaff
November 11, 2012

Some jazz aficionados might characterize pianist Ramsey Lewis' music as a gateway into more serious jazz, as if popular Lewis albums like The In Crowd (Verve, 1965) were meant to lead novice listeners to saxophonist Ornette Coleman's The Shape of Jazz to Come (Atlantic, 1959). But Lewis' commercial successes should not be viewed as a liability to his legacy in jazz history. Just as Coleman did, Lewis has done what only a few great musicians of his generation have done: ...

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Album Review

Ramsey Lewis: Songs from the Heart: Ramsey Plays Ramsey

Read "Songs from the Heart: Ramsey Plays Ramsey" reviewed by Tom Greenland

by Tom Greenland
January 15, 2010

Whether considering his style jazzy pop or popular jazz, Chicagoan Ramsey Lewis has always kept one foot firmly in the jazz mainstream, often tapping to a gospel beat. Here the pianist has recorded an all-original set that will satisfy both audiences by mixing classical elegance with blues preaching. Backed by veteran colleagues, bassist Larry Gray's technical prowess and drummer Leon Joyce's exuberant beats perfectly complement their leader's serene composure.

Culling tunes he wrote for the ballet To Know Her..., and ...

416

Album Review

Ramsey Lewis: Legends of Jazz with Ramsey Lewis: Showcase

Read "Legends of Jazz with Ramsey Lewis: Showcase" reviewed by Greg Thomas

by Greg Thomas
June 11, 2006

Jazz is virtually nonexistent on network television. Pianist and broadcaster Ramsey Lewis has addressed this vacuum with the PBS program Legends of Jazz with Ramsey Lewis. This Showcase CD/DVD set serves as a sampler of performances from the series. The end result is a patchwork of genres. Benny Golson captivates on the classic “Killer Joe ; Clark Terry's “Mumbles is hilarious. Seeing Ivan Lins perform his Brazilian hit “The Island is moving. Solo piano pieces by Chick ...

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Album Review

Legends of Jazz with Ramsey Lewis: Showcase: Various Artists

Read "Various Artists" reviewed by Jim Santella

by Jim Santella
April 25, 2006

Providing highlights from Legends of Jazz, this Showcase serves as a great introduction to the 2006 PBS television series. This CD/DVD package captures quite a few of the musical performances from the thirteen half-hour episodes, apparently selecting the best parts.

The CD features Al Jarreau and Kurt Elling improvising on “Take Five in a spontaneous setting. Chris Botti interprets “My Funny Valentine with his heart worn on his shirtsleeve. Marcus Miller, George Duke and Lee Ritenour plow through ...

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Film Review

Legends of Jazz with Ramsey Lewis: Season One

by Jim Santella
April 12, 2006

Legends of Jazz with Ramsey Lewis Season One Public Broadcasting Service 2006

Starting on April 3rd, with specific dates and times varying across the country, season one of Legends of Jazz gets going with a bang. The first thirty-minute episode features three great jazz trumpeters who are all quite active on the jazz scene today: Clark Terry, Roy Hargrove and Chris Botti.

Ramsey Lewis hosts each episode with the kind ...

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Film Review

Legends of Jazz with Ramsey Lewis

by AAJ Staff
May 8, 2005

Legends of Jazz with Ramsey Lewis A PBS television series LRSmedia & WTTW National Productions 2005

Here's cause for great celebration: for the first time in forty years, a American national network will air a weekly program devoted to jazz. Quite naturally, it's going to be on public television; expect an opening one-hour special and thirteen subsequent half-hour episodes, all hosted by Ramsey Lewis and featuring different musical guests in performance and ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Ramsey Lewis

Source: Michael Ricci
May 27, 2023

All About Jazz is celebrating Ramsey Lewis' birthday today!

Ramsey Lewis has been an iconic leader in the contemporary jazz movement for over 50 years with an unforgettable sound and outgoing personality that has allowed him to crossover to the pop and R&B charts. The Ramsey Lewis Trio, with bassist Eldee Young and percussionist Redd Holt, became a fixture on the Chicago jazz scene, releasing their debut album, Ramsey Lewis & His Gentlemen of Jazz, back in 1956. Lewis earned ...
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Recording

Ramsey Lewis Celebrates The Music Of The Fab Four With Posthumous CD 'The Beatles Songbook,' His First Solo Piano Recording, Due Jan. 6

Source: Terri Hinte Publicity
October 27, 2022

The late, legendary pianist Ramsey Lewis offers an intimate, familiar affair with his solo piano recording The Beatles Songbook: The Saturday Salon Series, Volume One, to be released January 6 on Steele Records. This selection of tunes by the iconic songwriting duo of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, approved for release by Lewis, is also a surprising DIY project, created during livestreamed sessions in Lewis’s own jny: Chicago home. Lewis, of course, is no stranger to covering of postwar pop ...
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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Ramsey Lewis

Source: Michael Ricci
May 27, 2022

All About Jazz is celebrating Ramsey Lewis' birthday today!

Composer and pianist Ramsey Lewis has been referred to as “the great performer", a title reflecting his performance style and musical selections which display his early gospel playing and classical training along with his love of jazz and other musical forms. A native Chicagoan (born May 27, 1935), Mr. Lewis represents the great diversity of music for which Chicago is noted. Ramsey Lewis first captivated fans with his first album “Ramsey ...
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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Ramsey Lewis

Source: Michael Ricci
May 27, 2021

All About Jazz is celebrating Ramsey Lewis' birthday today!

Performance / Tour

NEA Jazz Master Ramsey Lewis Announces The Second Season Of The Monthly Online Performance Series, 'Saturday Salon'

Source: Scott Thompson Public Relations
May 4, 2021

GRAMMY Award-winning pianist and NEA Jazz Master Ramsey Lewis continues his live streaming ticketed solo performances with a second season of twelve shows announced for 2021. The “Saturday Salon” sponsored by Ariel Investments will take place on the last Saturday of every month and feature a 60-minute performance at 1:00 PM Central Time. Tickets are $20 per show and on sale here. Lewis will provide audiences with an exclusive concert experience streaming on Stageit. The ticketed online platform, StageIt, is ...
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