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Biography
refimprove|date=February 2012 The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra was a jazz big band formed by trumpeter Thad Jones and drummer Mel Lewis around 1965. The band performed for twelve years in its original incarnation, and included a 1972 tour of the Soviet Union during the height of the Cold War . The band won a Grammy Awards of 1979|1978 Grammy Award for the album Live in Munich (Jones / Lewis album)|Live in Munich . The collaboration ended in 1978 with Jones suddenly moving to Copenhagen , Denmark , after which the band became the Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra . Since the death of Lewis in 1990 it has been known as the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra . They have maintained a Monday-night residency at the Village Vanguard for four decades.
History
The orchestra started out as a group of all-star studio musicians getting together for midnight practice sessions at any place within walking distance from ''Jim and Andy's , a bar frequented by New York musicians. They eventually debuted at the Village Vanguard in New York City|New York in 1966, and were quickly noticed by jazz insiders for their originality and virtuoso skills.Citation needed|date=January 2011
The band had its own unique style, along the lines of big band swing (genre)|swing , Bebop and Hard Bop . The sound was powerful, fast, intellectual and fun to listen to.Citation needed|date=January 2011 Their pieces required a high degree of skill to play.Citation needed|date=January 2011 Thad Jones, a trumpeter who toured (and wrote) for the Count Basie Orchestra during the 1950s, led the group, was its main arranger, and was occasionally featured, most often on flugelhorn . Mel Lewis, co-leader, produced a drum style with the band that was unique for big bands.Citation needed|date=January 2011 The extent in which he was able to incorporate the loose, open approach of small group playing was a major innovation.Citation needed|date=January 2011 His cymbal work added a texture and richness that is one of the hallmarks of the band. Every big band drummer after Lewis has been influenced by him to some degree.Citation needed|date=January 2011 The orchestra was arguably the most influential Big Band since the swing era.Citation needed|date=March 2008 It was also an unusual band; creating new styles, succeeding in an era where big bands were out of favor, and remaining integrated during racially tense periods. The band initially was made of all-stars, but over time endeavored to showcase new talent ( Jon Faddis ). Jones' arrangements proved to be highly influential upon modern composers such as Maria Schneider (musician)|Maria Schneider , Bob Brookmeyer (who is also an alumnus), Jim McNeely , and Bill Kirchner .Citation needed|date=January 2011 His songs built upon the innovations previously pioneered by Jazz composition figures such as Duke Ellington and Charles Mingus . Since the mid-1980s, the band has been renamed the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra , continuing its tradition as the Village Vanguard's house band.
Discography
Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra
Opening Night (Jones / Lewis album)|Opening Night (recorded 1966, released 2000) Alan Grant Presents
Presenting Thad Jones / Mel Lewis and the Jazz Orchestra (1966) Solid State Records (jazz label)|Solid State Records
Presenting Joe Williams and Thad Jones / Mel Lewis, The Jazz Orchestra (1966) Solid State
Live at the Village Vanguard (Jones / Lewis album)|Live at the Village Vanguard (1967) Solid State
The Big Band Sound of Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Featuring Miss Ruth Brown (1968) Solid State
Monday Night (1968) Solid State
Central Park North (Jones / Lewis album)|Central Park North (1969) Solid State
Basle, 1969 (recorded 1969, released 1996) TCB Music
Consummation (album)|Consummation (1970) Solid State / Blue Note Records|Blue Note
Suite for Pops (1972) Horizon / A& M Records|A& M
Live in Tokyo (The Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra album)|Live in Tokyo (1974) Denon Jazz
Potpourri (Jones / Lewis album)|Potpourri (1974) Philadelphia International
Thad Jones / Mel Lewis and Manuel De Sica (1974) Pausa
New Life (Jones / Lewis album)|New Life: Dedicated to Max Gordon (1975) A& M
Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra With Rhoda Scott aka Rhoda Scott in New York with... (1976)
Live in Munich (Jones / Lewis album)|Live in Munich (1976) Horizon / A& M
It Only Happens Every Time (1977) EMI Records – with Monica Zetterlund
Body and Soul (Jones / Lewis album)|Body and Soul aka Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra in Europe (1978) West Wind Records|West Wind Jazz – Live in Berlin
A Touch of Class (The Thad Jones/ Mel Lewis Orchestra album)|A Touch of Class (1978) West Wind Jazz – Live in Warsaw
Video performances
Jazz Casual – Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra and Woody Herman and His Swinging Herd|Jazz Casual – Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra... (recorded 1968) – a 1968 Television appearance
Compilations
The Blue Note Reissue Series: Thad Jones / Mel Lewis (recorded 1966 - 1970) Blue Note
The Complete Solid State Recordings of the Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra (recorded 1966 - 1970) Mosaic Records / Blue Note
In Europe (Thad Jones Mel Lewis Orchestra album)|In Europe (2007) ITM
Grammy awards|Grammy award:LA Times, "The Envelope" awards database. http://theenvelope.latimes.com/factsheets/awardsdb/env-awards-db-landing,0,3713019.htmlstory link. Accessed 2008 April 28.
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Performance: 2008 (for Monday Night Live at the Village Vanguard , The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra)
Best Jazz Instrumental Performance - Big Band: 1978 ( Live in Munich (Jones / Lewis album)|Live in Munich )
Grammy award nominations:
Best Jazz Instrumental Performance - Big Band: 1967 ( Live at the Village Vanguard (Jones / Lewis album)|Live at the Village Vanguard ), 1969 ( Central Park North (Jones / Lewis album)|Central Park North ), 1970 ( Consummation (album)|Consummation ), 1975 ( Potpourri (Jones / Lewis album)|Potpourri ), 1976 ( New Life (Jones / Lewis album)|New Life )
Best Instrumental Arrangement: 1975 (" Living for the City " from Potpourri (Jones / Lewis album)|Potpourri )
http://www.downbeat.com/artists/artist_main.asp? sect=archives& sub=stories& subid=616& aid=541& photo=& aname=Thad+Jones Downbeat interview with Thad Jones and Mel Lewis
http://www.renelaanen.com/joneslewis.htm Tribute to Thad Jones and Mel Lewis
http://www.assisiperformingarts.org Jazz Assisi, featuring Vanguard Jazz Orchestra.
Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra discography DEFAULTSORT:Thad Jones Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra, The Category:American jazz ensembles Category:Hard bop ensembles Category:Blue Note Records artists
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