Michael Lewis

John Lewis - Orchestra U.S.A. The Debut Recording (1963) {Lone Hill Jazz LHJ 10117 rel 2004} (ft. Eric Dolphy)
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© 1963, 2004 Lone Hill Jazz | LHJ 10117
Jazz / Modern Big Band / Piano

Lewis, the director of the Modern Jazz Quartet until his death in 2001, moved away from improvisation into composition when he formed Orchestra U.S.A. for this 1963 recording. John Lewis formed Orchestra U.S.A. as a vehicle to potentially explore any composed or improvised music, blending elements of jazz and classical music by recruiting some first-rate players from both worlds. The result is one of the more successful third stream recordings. There are two string quartets, plus woodwinds, brass, and a rhythm section present. Collaborating with Gunther Schuller, who conducted the group and did some of the orchestrations, Lewis expanded his work "Three Little Feelings" from its original chart for brass, featuring outstanding solos by alto saxophonist Phil Woods and guitarist Jim Hall.

Although Ramsey Lewis gained his initial fame as a jazz pianist, many of his records (including this one) are really more in the R&B field. The soul vocals, acid jazz rhythms and tinkling piano result in superior background music and there are some good moments (such as Grover Washington, Jr.'s soprano on "Sun Goddess 2000") but Ramsey Lewis is capable of much better. A strictly commercial effort that succeeds more as dance music than as creative jazz.

On "Your Requests" Canadian singer and pianist Laila Biali fulfills the musical wishes of her fans. Fresh versions of classics from the Great American Songbook with a prominent line-up featuring Kurt Elling, Larnell Lewis, Grégoire Maret, Anat Cohen, Emilie-Claire Barlow and many more.