George Lewis
George Lewis never tried to be a virtuoso soloist. He loved to play melodic ensembles where his distinctive clarinet was free to improvise as simply as he desired. When Lewis was inspired and in tune, he could hold his own with any of his contemporaries in New Orleans and he always sounded beautiful playing his "Burgundy Street Blues." To everyone's surprise (including himself), he became one of the most popular figures of the New Orleans revival movement of the 1950s.
It took Lewis a long time to achieve fame. He taught himself clarinet when he was 18 and worked in the '20s with the Black Eagle Band, Buddy Petit, the Eureka Brass Band, Chris Kelly, Kid Ory, the Olympia Orchestra, and other New Orleans groups. He played with Bunk Johnson in Evan Thomas' group in the early '30s but had a day job throughout most of the decade. When Bunk was discovered in 1942, Lewis became part of his band, playing with him Johnson, however, was difficult to get along with and a homesick Lewis returned to New Orleans by 1946. He played locally with his own group (featuring trombonist Jim Robinson) and in 1950 was portrayed in an article for Look. That exposure led to him recording regularly, and by 1952, Lewis was in such great demand that he was soon working before crowds in California and touring Europe and Japan. In addition to Robinson, Lewis' band in its prime years often featured trumpeter Kid Howard, pianist Alton Purnell, banjoist Lawrence Marrero, bassist Alcide "Slow Drag" Pavageau, and drummer Joe Watkins. George Lewis, who recorded for many labels (a Mosaic box set of his Blue Note sessions is one of the best reissues), became a symbol of what was right and wrong about the New Orleans revival movement, overpraised by his fans and overcritized by his detractors. At his best he was well worth hearing.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
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Cooke, India: RedHanded
India Cooke, Lisle Ellis, George Lewis, Larry Ochs, Donald Robinson, Lee,
Jazz - Released by Music and Arts Programs of America on Jan 1, 1996
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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At The Club Hangover, San Francisco, 1953 Vol. 2
Jazz - Released by Storyville on Oct 20, 1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
George Lewis and the Easy Riders Jazz Band, Vol. 2
George Lewis, The Easy Riders Jazz Band
Jazz - Released by GHB on Sep 17, 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Solo Trombone Record
Jazz - Released by Sackville on Jan 1, 1976
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Les Exercices Spirituels
Classical - Released by Tzadik on May 31, 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jammin' in The '50s
Jazz - Released by Jazz Crusade on Oct 10, 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
George Lewis and Louis Nelson with Barry Martyn's Band 1966
George Lewis, Louis Nelson, Barry Martyn's Band
Jazz - Released by GHB on Jun 14, 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sequel (For Lester Bowie)
Jazz - Released by Intakt Records on Jan 15, 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Trios and Bands
Jazz - Released by American Music on Dec 11, 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
George Lewis with Kid Shots
Jazz - Released by American Music on Jan 20, 1992
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Beverly Caverns Sessions, Vol. 2
Jazz - Released by Good Time Jazz on Jan 1, 1953
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Hello Central…Give Me Doctor Jazz
Jazz - Released by Delmark Records on Jan 1, 2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Great Jazz Great Clarinets (Live)
Albert Nicholas, Edmond Hall, George Lewis
Jazz - Released by Upbeat Jazz on Mar 31, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
George Lewis with Barry Martyn's Band 1966
George Lewis, Barry Martyn's Band
Jazz - Released by GHB on Oct 1, 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
At The Club Hangover, San Francisco 1953 Vol 1
Jazz - Released by Storyville Records on Feb 20, 1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
On Stage and At Newport
Jazz - Released by Upbeat Jazz on Nov 27, 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
George Lewis Bands, Trios & Quintets
Jazz - Released by American Music on Dec 9, 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
George Lewis: Assemblage
Classical - Released by New World Records on Sep 8, 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -