Ramsey Lewis sets a swinging pace for the week. We follow with Canadian pianist D.D. Jackson. And close out the week with 18 versions of “Skylark” featuring Abbey Lincoln, Ahmad Jamal, Aretha Franklin, Frank Morgan, Carmen McRae, Casandra Wilson, Freddie Hubbard, Dianne Reeves, Erroll Garner, Ernestine Anderson, Sonny Rollins, Ray Brown, Singers Unlimited, Art Blakey, Leon Ware & Don Grusin, Nnenna Freelon, Gregory Porter, and Sunny Sumter.
The truth is Ramsey Lewis is a hell of pianist not only in terms of technique but also in terms of his sense of structure and melodic sensitivity, all of which you can hear in the West Side Story medley that opens the Mixtape. Ramsey’s use of dynamics, literally moves the crowd to be whisper-quiet during certain passages, and out-right screaming raucous during more dynamic parts as they provide spontaneous choral accompaniment. Ramsey Lewis is a masterful event planner when it comes to audience appeal and involvement.
When the first trio broke up in 1966 after working and recording together for over a decade, Maurice White joined the band as the percussionist. White would subsequently leave to form Earth, Wind and Fire but also provided the foundation for “Sun Goddess,” one of Lewis’ major hits.
On through the eighties and nineties when many jazz artists struggled to survive, Ramsey Lewis remained popular constantly touring and recording. With well over eighty albums as a leader, Ramsey Lewis has won three Grammys and probably holds a record as a recording jazz pianist, including a trio of albums featuring vocalist Nancy Wilson, the last of which, Simple Pleasures, features an outstanding "God Bless The Child" Nancy and Ramsey duet.
—kalamu ya salaam