Mel Lewis and the Jazz Orchestra toured the globe with inventive orating big band music and played a crucial role in revitalizing big band jazz. Lewis was considered one of the top drummers in jazz, acclaimed for fusing swing and be-bop in his drumming. After years of anchoring the rhythm sections of the bands of Gerry Mulligan and Stan Kenton, he teamed with trumpeter and composer Thad Jones to form the Jazz Orchestra, a group which became famous by modernizing the big band sound. By the time this concert was filmed the band had been together for almost two decades under the direction of Lewis. Lewis leads his seventeen piece ensemble through several innovative Herbie Hancock and Bob Brookmeyer charts, delivering big band jazz that is both cutting-edge and timeless.
Additional Information Format: DVD Studio: SHANACHIE Genre: POP Item ID: 667141 Year: 1982 UPC #: 01635163239 Running Time: 57 mins ProductID: SHA6323DVD