Melvin Sokoloff (May 10, 1929 – February 2, 1990), known professionally as Mel Lewis, was an American jazz drummer, session musician, professor, and author. He received fourteen Grammy Award nominations.

Biography

Early years

Lewis was born in Buffalo, New York, to Russian-Jewish immigrant parents Samuel and Mildred Sokoloff. He started playing professionally as a teen, eventually joining Stan Kenton in 1954. His musical career brought him to Los Angeles in 1957 and New York City in 1963.

Career

In 1966 in New York, he teamed up with Thad Jones to lead the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra. The group started as informal jam sessions with the top studio and jazz musicians of the city, but eventually began performing regularly on Monday nights at the famed venue, the Village Vanguard. In 1979, the band won a Grammy for their album Live in Munich. Like all of the musicians in the band, it was only a sideline. In 1976, he released an album titled Mel Lewis and Friends that featured him leading a smaller sextet that allowed freedom and improvisation. When Jones moved to Denmark in 1978, the band became known as Mel Lewis and the Jazz Orchestra. Lewis continued to lead the band, recording and performing every Monday night at the Village Vanguard until shortly before his death from cancer at age 60. The band still performs on most Monday nights at the club. Today, it is known as the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra and has released several CDs.

Playing style and approach

Lewis's cymbal work was considered unique among many musicians. Of his style, drummer Buddy Rich had remarked: "Mel Lewis doesn't sound like anybody else. He sounds like himself." Lewis insisted on playing genuine Turkish-made cymbals, switching from the Zildjian Company later in his career to the Istanbul brand. His setup included a 21-inch ride on his right, a 19-inch crash-ride on his left, and his signature sound, a 22-inch swish "knocker" with rivets on his far right. The rather lightweight cymbals exuded a dark, overtone-rich sound. Lewis' wood-shell drums were considered warm and rich in their sound. He almost exclusively played a Gretsch drums set, although in later years, played Slingerland drums equipped with natural calfskin top heads. Regular mylar heads were used on the bottom. Lewis described a playing philosophy of not "pushing or pulling" but "supporting." "If you watch me, it doesn't look like I'm doing much," he remarked in an interview.

Declining health and death

In the late 1980s, Lewis was diagnosed with melanoma. It was identified in his arm, then surfaced in his lungs, and ultimately went to his brain. He died on February 2, 1990, just days before his band was to celebrate its 24th anniversary at the Village Vanguard.

Discography

Mel Lewis and the Orchestra

Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra

Thad Jones Mel Lewis Quartet

Mel Lewis

Video

Compilations

Jones and Lewis as guests with other orchestras

As sideman

With Pepper Adams With Manny Albam With Chet Baker With Bob Brookmeyer With Kenny Burrell With Benny Carter With Buck Clayton With Al Cohn With Bob Cooper With Hank Crawford and Jimmy McGriff With Eddie Daniels With Eric Dolphy With Maynard Ferguson With Dean Friedman With Stan Getz With Dizzy Gillespie With Jimmy Hamilton With Johnny Hodges With Thad Jones and Pepper Adams Quintet With Stan Kenton With Morgana King With Jimmy Knepper With Peggy Lee With Joe Lovano With Johnny Mandel With Herbie Mann With Warne Marsh With Jack McDuff With Gary McFarland With Jimmy McGriff With Melanie With Helen Merrill With James Moody With Bette Midler With Gerry Mulligan With Mark Murphy With Anita O'Day With Chico O'Farrill With Esther Phillips With Shorty Rogers With Pete Rugolo With Sal Salvador With Shirley Scott With Bud Shank With Sonny Stitt With Gerald Wilson With Jimmy Witherspoon

Filmography

Concert performances

Film

Sources