John Lewis

John Aaron Lewis (born the May 3rd 1920 with the Barn (Illinois), dead the March 29th 2001 with New York) was a Pianiste and American Compositeur of Jazz, famous to have directed the Modern Jazz Four-bit byte.

Biography

Raised with Albuquerque (New Mexico), he learned the classical music and the piano with his mother. He served in the American armed during the Second world war and met Kenny Clarke there. After the war, they settled with New York and it joined the orchestra of Dizzy Gillespie. He also played and recorded with Charlie Parker, Illinois Jacquet, Miles Davis and Lester Young.

In 1951, the Lewis, Milt Jackson, Clarke, and Ray Brown formed the Milt Jackson Quartet. Percy Heath replaced Brown with low, and Modern Jazz Four-bit byte was born. Lewis was the musical director and the pianist until the group separates in 1974 then when it was reformed in 1981. During this time, John Lewis continued a career solo, by reinterpreting in particular the Quite Moderate Keyboard of Jean-Sebastien Bach.

He was also piano teacher and type-setter of film soundtracks.

He died in New York, 80 years old, after a long fight against a Cancer of the prostate.

External bond

Documentary film on John Lewis

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