Mel Lewis

Born: 
05/10/1929
City: 
Buffalo
Region: 
NY
Country: 
USA
Died: 
02/02/1990
Years Active: 
1950's-1990
Instruments: 
Drums
Notable Equipment: 
Gretsch Drums
Istanbul Cymbals
Slingerland Drums
Zildjian Cymbals
Associated Artists: 
Pepper Adams
Woody Herman
Thad Jones
Played With: 
Ray Anthony
Tex Beneke
Stan Kenton
Recorded With: 
Dizzy Gillespie

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Mel Lewis (born Melvin Sokoloff) was an American jazz musician and bandleader. Lewis was a prominent solo performer, and a professor at William Paterson University, during which time he also authored a book on the art of drumming.

Discography

Critics' Choice
Released: 1957
The Pepper Adams Quintet
Released: 1957
Sonny Stitt Blows the Blues
Released: 1960
Sonny Stitt Swings the Most
Released: 1960
Ray Charles & Betty Carter
Released: 1961
Saxophone Supremacy
Released: 1961
Blue Bash!
Released: 1963
Any Number Can Win
Released: 1963
Presenting Thad Jones / Mel Lewis & the Jazz Orchestra
Released: 1966
Live at The Village Vanguard
Released: 1967
The Big Band Sound of Thad Jones/Mel Lewis
Released: 1968
Monday Night
Released: 1968
Always Something There
Released: 1968
Central Park North
Released: 1969
Consummation
Released: 1970
Potpourri
Released: 1974
Live in Tokyo
Released: 1974
Ellington Is Forever
Released: 1975
Greetings & Salutations
Released: 1975
Suite For Pops
Released: 1975
Thad Jones / Mel Lewis & Manuel De Sica
Released: 1976
New Life (Dedicated To Max Gordon)
Released: 1976
Thad Jones, Mel Lewis & UMO
Released: 1978

Concerts

Event Datesort descending Venue City Region Country
Stan Kenton Orchestra 06/30/1956 Crystal Palace Ballroom Coloma Michigan USA
Stan Kenton Orchestra 07/14/1956 The Dells Haslett Michigan USA
Stan Kenton Orchestra 07/19/1956 Wamplers Lake Pavilion Onsted Michigan USA
Stan Kenton Orchestra 07/20/1956 Fruitport Pavilion Fruitport Michigan USA
Stan Kenton Orchestra 07/21/1956 IMA Auditorium Flint Michigan USA
Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Band 01/16/1967 Village Vanguard NYC New York USA
Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Band 01/23/1967 Village Vanguard NYC New York USA
Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra 12/01/1968 Town Hall NYC New York USA
Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra 01/21/1972 Severance Hall Cleveland Ohio USA
Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Big Band 02/26/1972 Light Guard Armory Detroit Michigan USA
Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Big Band 02/27/1972 Pampa Lounge Warren Michigan USA
Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra 04/06/1974 Ford Auditorium Detroit Michigan USA
Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra 12/07/1975 Clarenceville High School Livonia Michigan USA
Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Big Band 02/29/1976 Silver Dollar Saloon Lansing Michigan USA
Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra 11/06/1976 Michigan League Ballroom Ann Arbor Michigan USA
Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Big Band 07/19/1978 Hotel Pontchartrain Detroit Michigan USA
The Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra 07/25/1978 The Earle Ann Arbor Michigan USA
Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra 01/16/1979 Renaissance Plaza Hotel Detroit Michigan USA
6th Annual CMU Jazz Festival 02/23/1979 Warriner Hall Mount Pleasant Michigan USA
Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra 02/24/1979 Light Guard Armory Detroit Michigan USA
Mel Lewis 07/11/1979 Hotel Pontchartrain Detroit Michigan USA
15th Annual Conference of the National Association of Jazz Educators 01/07/1988 Westin Hotel Detroit Michigan USA