It was with great sadness that we at Soul Brothers learned of the passing of Jazz pianist, Ramsey Lewis. He was 87. Born in Chicago, Lewis learned to play the piano from the age of four. After playing with various groups in and around his home city, he formed his own trio with bassist Eldee Young and drummer Isaac ‘Red’ Holt. In 1956, the trio recorded its debut album, ‘Ramsey Lewis and His Gentle-Men Of Swing’ for Argo Records, the Jazz subsidiary of the legendary Chicago based label, Chess. Lewis would go on to record over thirty albums on Argo and its successor Cadet Records between 1956 and 1971.
Lewis recorded primarily Jazz trio albums, though occasionally with the addition of horns and/or strings, and more rarely singers or additional guest soloists. His first hit, from 1965, a cover of Dobie Gray’s ‘The In Crowd’ crossed over to the Pop market, rare for an instrumental let alone a Jazz one. Like ‘The In Crowd’, his second hit, ‘Hang On Sloopy’ was recorded live with enthusiastic audience involvement, the former at a concert in Washington DC, the latter at the famous Lighthouse at Hermosa Beach, California.
In 1966 his drummer and bassist left to form Young-Holt Unlimited and were replaced by bassist Cleveland Eaton plus drummer and future Earth Wind And Fire founder Maurice White. The hits continued with a memorably iconic instrumental version of the traditional Negro spiritual anthem ‘Wade In The Water’.
His sixties albums displayed a deft touch and subtle use of harmonics as well as a diverse array of influences from Brazilian/ Latin themes (‘Bossa Nova’ and ‘Goin Latin’), Soul (‘Dancing In The Street’, and ‘Up Pops Ramsey Lewis’), Pop (the tribute to Lennon/ McCartney ‘Mother Nature’s Son) and even Classical.
Soon after Maurice White’s departure in 1970, Lewis left Argo/ Cadet to join Columbia, where he recorded regularly over the next eighteen years (1971-1989). His music adopted a funkier style and incorporated electronic keyboards alongside the traditional acoustic piano which had defined his previous work.
The early Columbia albums featured some fine tracks including fine covers of War’s ‘Slippin Into Darkness’ (from ‘Upendo Ni Pamoja’) and the Stylistics’ ‘Betcha By Golly Wow’ (from ‘Funky Serenity’). In 1974, Lewis reunited with Maurice White, who co-produced the album and co-wrote the title track from the pianist’s classic ‘Sun Goddess’; the single went gold. Two years later White, alongside the legendary Charles Stepney produced the widely acclaimed ‘Salongo’ – probably Lewis’ best album from that era. At the time under-rated, it included the brilliant Rare Groove/ Jazz Funk tune ‘Brazilica’.
His later Columbia recordings were increasingly mellow, a precursor to what is now known as Smooth Jazz. The upbeat Stevie Wonder tune ‘Spring High’ from Ramsey’s ‘Love Notes’ album, the title tune of which was also composed by Wonder, remains a highlight from this period. The Earth Wind And Fire connection resumed with the excellent ‘Tequila Mockingbird’, written and co-produced by the band’s keyboard player Larry Dunn. From 1982, the live rendition of Grover Washington Jr’s ‘Sassy Stew’ (‘Ramsey Lewis Live At The Savoy’) features the saxophonist himself on soprano and is another high spot.
Ramsey Lewis continued an active recording career into the nineties and beyond, his last album, ‘Manha De Carnaval’ dates from 2021. Albums like ‘Sky Islands’ and ‘Between The Keys’ for GRP maintained a high standard and reflected the smoother style of their time (mid 1990s). He also formed the supergroup Urban Knights, whose eight sets, recorded mainly for GRP and Narada were iconic; past members included Grover Washington Jr, Freddie Hubbard, Najee, Gerald Albright to name just a few.
Lewis also hosted radio and TV shows including a 13-week television series entitled ‘Legends Of Jazz’ that featured the likes of Dave Brubeck, Chick Corea, Benny Golson and Tony Bennett. He was as consummate a broadcaster as he was a pianist.
Laurence and I were fortunate enough to see Ramsey at the Union Chapel, Islington, London a few years ago. He was a superb live performer too and a thoroughly decent, modest and dignified man.
His recording career spanned sixty-five years, over eighty albums, five gold records and three Grammy awards, Ramsey Lewis RIP, thank you.
Malcolm Prangell.
