John Lewis, tribute to self

My first encounter with jazz was MJQ headed by John Lewis, a noble man. I went to Tokyo for their New Year's concert in early 60es. There was no Internet at the time and no jazz station in Japan. I have visited so-called "Jazz-coffee" shops where they play LP records with the high fidelity audio system of the time. MJQ was quite popular.

If you sit in the coffee shop, you are supposed not to move or converse but to listen. That was the time when I started smoking. I didn't like Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane, Sony Rollins. They were just too loud to listen to.

I wanted you to know that I like John Lewis best. The below video was recorded in 2000, a year before his death. He died on March 29, 2001, 80 years old. He lived long enough to be rewarded and respected, I believe.




I hear his tribute to himself. His left hand plays tribute and right hand wishes to keep living forever. A beautiful tune and pretty hard to play. Have you heard anyone played this tune other than John?

Can you believe Hank Jones playing with John Lewis?

I liked listening to Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson and Red Garland but had never tried to grab a few phrases to enrich my improvisation. They are to tough to copy and paste into my ad lib. On the other hand, I was able to write down series of single tone of John Lewis, Hank Jones and Tomy Flanagan.

Their phrases sound like well planned and well thought out and sing pretty well. Oh, By the way I wrote about John's talking this perspective on jazz. Now, I found Hank Jones talking his personal history. It's here, check it. It's interesting.

I've never thought of them played together. MJQ was the second live jazz group I saw. The first one was Art Blakey, both at Shinjuku, Tokyo.

Chording is a bit different though, if you add Tomy Flanagan, the trio completes my improvisation tutors during my pianist age. I cannot remember when though, I drove down to Village to listen to Hank. He gave me the same impression I expected when I listened to his records. Those are the days I enjoy living. Am I dieing? No, not yet, but it could be within a few years.

Django, John Lewis solo

John Lewis plays DJANGO: solo: He also tells that he has met DJANGO during war in France. I couldn't have a chance to hear this tune played solo. The first time I hear this tune was with MJQ.

It is a minor tune but having 8 bars with major inserted in the middle. The transition was appealing. If you listen to the MJQ playing it, during early sixties I mean, Milt jackson was dancing on the vivraphone with his mallets. And it had been rather Milt Jackson who had impressed me of his exciting yet cool playing style.

It was late '80es I have listened his own quartet somewhere in suburban San Franscisco. The tone was definitely Milt, but I felt something was missing and was not excited. Probably due Jhon Lewis wasn't there.

Listen to this solo of Lewis. You might have watched this video and so did I. But I love this little gap that is John plays minor tune with medium fast tempo. I believe you'd love it, too.