Eric Lewis

[Elissa]

An Organissimo search for this young phenom turned up only one mention - of Eric on the LCJO Ornette program - which seems odd to me as I think he's the swingingest pianist of his generation. Anyone ever catch him in Elvin's bands? No matter who else was in the Machine, Eric and Elvin were so much on the same plane as to be playing duets and render anyone else on stage all but inconsequential. Not many ppl on any instrument of that caliber these days.

Which isn't to dis the many wonderful pianists you can see any night in NYC - I'm quite content indeed to hear Jason Moran, James Hurt, Brad Meldau, Jason Lindner, Uri Caine, Jacky Terrasson and several others. Eric Reed, Marcus Roberts, Bill Charlap and that big religious fellow hold less interest for me. Yet none lift a stage and its audience higher that does Lewis.

It'd seem he's quit his gig with Lincoln Ctr to concentrate on his own band and is back to Monday night hits at Cleopatra's needle, a gig always worth the trek up Bway. Lewis' style may hark most to Tatum's, but from the first note he plays, his voice rings always unmistakably his own. I've often been at jam sessions where the second Lewis sets down at the keys, the vibe in the room recalibrates around him.

Edited February 18, 2005 by Elis

[Alexander Hawkins]

I saw him a few years ago with Elvin, and was blown away by his power as much as anything else (and I don't mean that in a pejorative sense). I thought I started a thread on him at the time, but maybe that was on the BNBB...In any case, although I've heard little (nothing?) from him since, he definitely made a mark.

The Tatum comparison is not one I had thought of, but apt!

[xybert]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwnVgOJE3dk

[bertrand]

He's nuts.

Bertrand.

[xybert]

I found it to be a fascinating video on a lot of different levels.