Ramsey Lewis
Ramsey Emmanuel Lewis ( born May 27, 1935 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American jazz pianist and keyboardist of an amusing, genre -wide soul and pop jazz.
Life and work
Lewis received from four years of classical piano lessons. At fifteen, he was a member of the seven piece jazz band The Cleffs, which later the Ramsey Lewis Trio with bassist Eldee Young and drummer Isaac "Red" Holt seceded. Their first album, Ramsey Lewis and the Gentlemen of Swing came out in 1956. 1958 had Lewis and his trio with the debut album by vibraphonist Lem Winchester. Ramsey Lewis was established in 1965 by his album The In Crowd internationally known, reached # 2 on the pop charts and earned him a Grammy in 1966 ( Best Jazz Performance Small Group). Then he turned more to the pop and rhythm and blues field. Known from these years are also Wade In The Water Hold it right there ( Grammy in 1967 for Best Rhythm and Blues Band ) as well as radio hits such as Hang On Sloopy ( Grammy in 1974 for Rhythm & Blues Instrumental) or stylistically broad Another Voyage.
Since 1999, a change in musical direction reveals: In the album Appassionata he reworked classical themes in " Ramsey Lewis Swing". He also provided input for three projects of the label Narada Jazz: "Urban Knights " and the duo " Simple Pleasures " and " Meant To Be" with singer Nancy Wilson. For the former, he received the NAACP Image Award in the category "Outstanding Jazz Artist ." On Time Flies (2004) Lewis provides an overview of his musical world -. Rhythm and blues and jazz from the roots of gospel, the classical training of his youth [ Note 1 ] In 2005 he published his gospel -inspired album With one voice.
In addition, Ramsey Lewis was and is also a well known radio presenter, first on the Chicago Smooth Jazz stations WNUA with his show Legends of Jazz, in which he also presented in interviews and live recordings from 1990 famous jazz musician. The broadcast was heard in 60 U.S. cities and was continued by him at the station WTTW. Since 2006 he also has the Ramsey Lewis Morning Show in Smooth Jazz Network. He is also active in the promotion of young scientists, for example with your own foundation, the at-risk youth designed to teach the music, and at the Ravinia Jazz Festival in Highland Park, Illinois.
In 2007 he received the NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship.
Ramsey Lewis Trio
1966 Holt and Young left the trio to form their own band; Lewis replaced them with bassist Cleveland Eaton and drummer Maurice White. White, in turn, was replaced by Maurice Jennings in 1970. In the 1970s, the trio was also sometimes accompanied by a keyboard player; In 1979, guitarist Henry Johnson in the group (up to 1983). For many years, Larry Gray (bass, cello) and Leon Joyce Jr. on drums his companions.
Trivia
Wade in the Water is known as the theme song of the consignment reports today of the North German and West German Radio.