John Lewis

The musical director of <a href="spotify:artist:7wBFjZMHsC6nfV0HOSd6uI">the Modern Jazz Quartet</a> for its entire history, John Lewis found the perfect outlet for his interest in bop, blues, and <a href="spotify:artist:5aIqB5nVVvmFsvSdExz408">Bach</a>. Possessor of a "cool" piano style that (like <a href="spotify:artist:2jFZlvIea42ZvcCw4OeEdA">Count Basie</a>'s) makes every note count, Lewis with <a href="spotify:artist:7wBFjZMHsC6nfV0HOSd6uI">the MJQ</a> 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 <a href="spotify:artist:5RzjqfPS0Bu4bUMkyNNDpn">Dizzy Gillespie</a> big band (1946-1948). He recorded with <a href="spotify:artist:4Ww5mwS7BWYjoZTUIrMHfC">Charlie Parker</a> during 1947-1948 (including "Parker's Mood"), and played with <a href="spotify:artist:0kbYTNQb4Pb1rPbbaF0pT4">Miles Davis' Birth of the Cool Nonet</a>, arranging "Move" and "Rouge." He worked with <a href="spotify:artist:6HzzZqLS76PGbKaw6dIMHZ">Illinois Jacquet</a> (1948-1949) and <a href="spotify:artist:05E3NBxNMdnrPtxF9oraJm">Lester Young</a> (1950-1951), and appeared on many recordings during the era. In 1951, Lewis recorded with <a href="spotify:artist:23i8EixXKG0EWGRCfHlUGN">the Milt Jackson Quartet</a> which by 1952 became <a href="spotify:artist:7wBFjZMHsC6nfV0HOSd6uI">the Modern Jazz Quartet</a>. Lewis' musical vision was fulfilled with <a href="spotify:artist:7wBFjZMHsC6nfV0HOSd6uI">the MJQ</a> and he composed many pieces, with "Django" being the best-known. In addition to constantly touring with <a href="spotify:artist:7wBFjZMHsC6nfV0HOSd6uI">the MJQ</a> during 1952-1974, 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 <a href="spotify:artist:4HirYEf3m0K7N1bP2JWcEt">Gunther Schuller</a>, and records with <a href="spotify:artist:52by2zEnqIhLTfdC3x7GMp">Svend Asmussen</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:6smduqXQTpYLxA6MKAJ7pw">Albert Mangelsdorff</a>), and worked with <a href="spotify:artist:31CcS6c7frT7XkSRTSAMsM">Orchestra U.S.A</a>. in the mid-'60s. When <a href="spotify:artist:7wBFjZMHsC6nfV0HOSd6uI">the MJQ</a> broke up in 1974, Lewis worked as an educator and occasionally recorded as a leader. With <a href="spotify:artist:7wBFjZMHsC6nfV0HOSd6uI">the MJQ</a>'s rebirth in 1981, he has resumed his former role as its guiding spirit until his death in 2001. Most of Lewis' own projects were recorded for <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Atlantic%22">Atlantic</a>. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi