Mel Lewis & the Jazz Orchestra Play the Compositions of Herbie Hancock Live in Montreux (Remastered) Mel Lewis with The Jazz Orchestra

• 1One Finger Snap08:50
• 2Dolphin Dance09:40
• 3Wiggle Waggle08:01
• 4Speak Like a Child10:46
• 5Eye of the Hurricane11:52
• Total Runtime49:09

Info for Mel Lewis & the Jazz Orchestra Play the Compositions of Herbie Hancock Live in Montreux (Remastered)

Mel Lewis first teamed up with renowned trumpeter Thad Jones to form the band that later became the legendary Mel Lewis Orchestra. Brimming with some of the best players in the Big Apple, the band quickly found success. They also became the Monday night band at the world’s most famous jazz club, New York’s The Village Vanguard. With Jones’ departure in ’78, Mel took over as leader, shaping the band into “one of the most exciting and innovative big bands ever to grace the jazz scene” (jazz writer Mike Hennessey). This album’s theme is special: pieces by one of the greatest jazz musicians of the last half century, Herbie Hancock, with Bob Mintzer taking on the arranging duties. A quick rundown of who solos: One Finger Snap features John Marshall on trumpet, Lee Robertson’s trombone, and Jim McNeely on piano. Dolphin Dance: Dick Oats alto, John Mosca, trombone. On Wiggle Waggle Richard Perry takes the tenor solo, Jim McNeely the piano, and Carl Gardner the trumpet; the feel is funk with a dash of Latin. With its rich, inventive juxtaposition of French horn, flutes, and horns, the ballad Speak Like A Child is one of Mintzer’s arranging highpoints on the album. Dick Oats takes the emotive soprano solo. Eye Of The Hurricane showcases Gary Pribek’s baritone sax; Joe Lovano’s tenor solo foreshadows his rise to stardom, and Mel gets in his licks with a tempestuous solo. Mike Hennessey calls the music “big band jazz at the highest state of the art” It’s a good call.

Dick Oatts, alto saxophone
Steve Coleman, alto saxophone
Gary Pribek, baritone saxophone, bass clarinet
Doug Purviance, bass trombone
Earl McIntyre, bass trombone
Dick Oatts, clarinet, flute, soprano saxophone
Joe Lovano, clarinet, flute, tenor saxophone
Richard Perry, clarinet, flute, tenor saxophone
Steve Coleman, clarinet, flute, soprano saxophone
Earl Gardner, flugelhorn, trumpet
Joe Mosello, flugelhorn, trumpet
John Marshall, flugelhorn, trumpet
Simo Salminen, flugelhorn, trumpet
Stephanie Fauber, French Horn
John Mosca, trombone
Lee Robertson, trombone
Jim McNeely, piano
Mel Lewis, drums
John Lockwood, bass

Produced by Mike Hennessey

Digitally remastered

Mel Lewis
Born Melvin Sokoloff in Buffalo, NY, to Russian immigrant parents, his father was a drummer and inspired his son to follow in his footsteps from an early age. Still in his mid-teens, young Lewis played with nationally known jazz musicians Harold Austin and Lenny Lewis. Early credits also include stints with Boyd Raeburn (1948), Alvina Rey (1948-9), Ray Anthony (1949-50), 1953-4), and Tex Beneke (1950-53). In 1954 he joined Stan Kenton's band, playing alongside such musicians as Jimmy Giuffre, Maynard Ferguson, Laurindo Almeida, Vido Musso, and vocalist June Christy. During his three-year tenure with Kenton, Lewis also worked and recorded with the Frank Rosolino Quintet and the Hampton Hawes Trio.

In 1957 Mel settled in Los Angeles where he led a quintet with another ex-Kenton sideman, saxophonist Bill Holman. He worked with the big bands of Gerald Wilson and Terry Gibbs, recording with the latter between 1959-62. The early 1960's found Lewis in New York with the Gerry Mulligan Concert Jazz Band, in Europe with Dizzy Gillespie, and in Russia with Benny Goodman.

Lewis moved to New York in 1963 and formed a big band with trumpeter Thad Jones two years later. The Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra performed and recorded extensively, garnering rave reviews and awards. Their performance on the album "Live In Munich" earned them a Grammy Award in 1978.

After twelve productive years, Jones left for Europe and Lewis assumed sole leadership of the band. With the departure of Jones, the trombonist/pianist/arranger Bob Brookmeyer assisted in the musical direction of the Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra. Lewis' residency at the prestigious Village Vanguard club spanned more than two decades; he performed there regularly until one month before his death. Today the Orchestra continues to tour and record albums, as well as perform every Monday night at the Village Vanguard under the moniker "The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra."

This album contains no booklet.