RIP Ramsey Lewis His easy-going style brought jazz—and joy—into the lives of many casual listeners Though he didn't use a ring modulator or play with an army of electric guitarists, Ramsey Lewis was one of the more popular jazz musicians of the mid 1960s and helped bridge the gap between gospel, blues, soul, jazz, and rock/fusion experiments. Though he played a lot of straightforward jazz, Lewis is best known for his gospel and blues-inflected pop tunes with a heavy backbeat, such as "The 'In' Crowd", "A Hard Day's Night", and "Hang On Sloopy". At the same time alto saxophonist Julian "Cannonball" Adderley, who had first come to the public's attention as a Charlie Parker-style bop saxophone whiz was demonstrating a heavy soul and gospel influence with his famous Quintet, using such music to connect with an audience and expose them to more straightforward small group jazz sounds. Both Lewis and Adderley had huge chart-topping hits at a time when jazz was by and large unable to connect with the larger pop audience.
Ramsey Lewis was definitely an on ramp to jazz for a lot of people. My dad was a huge jazz fan, and artists like Lewis, Hubert Laws, and Earl Klugh were always playing in our house.
In recent years, he'd caught my attention with the sessions he'd been doing during the pandemic. I liked the music, but was delighted to see that he was still going strong even in his mid-80s.
I inherited the records I mentioned above. On hearing of Lewis' passing, I was delighted to find that I owned a copy of "Sun Goddess." It's been (more or less) playing nonstop this week.
Gonna start raving, now, Marshall! I had to jump to the Mott article, and I'll happily return to dig into the Ramsey one! Can't imagine you're as old as moi, but, in July '73 (when this album was released), I was in between high school grad (Houston), and going up to college @ N. TX State.
I KNOW I took this album with me. In fact, I can't recall, of course, or prove it, but I HAD to have read the Edmonds review in Creem, 'cause I was all about the rock mags back then! Did you know other '70s-era rock critics are here on 'Stack? Wayne Robins and Robert Christgau to name two! I've already told Wayne I read him all thru the '70s (which makes me wonder how I ever got homework done!)
You so clearly described Mott's place in the glam universe, and where they accurately fit in the Bowie/Marc/Roxy, et al space! And, an Alvin Stardust reference?!? You can't have known about him (and where his puzzle piece fit) unless you lived thru that time frame! He, of course, never had product released in the US. Too "Briddish"!
I never thought I'd see such a well-conceived piece on Mott and that era here on the 'Stack...I'm stunned I haven't written about Mott yet, myself! But, now, I may not need to....I also loved this album, in particular, but especially "Honaloochee Boogie," to the point where I actually obtained the import (UK) single! I was consumed and obsessed!
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go and enjoy your Ramsey article! Casual readers, do yourself a favor, and subscribe to New Directions in Music (as I do)! Marshall's a champ, and if he can transport me back in time to a personally-beloved era in music, he's worth his weight in glitter!🎼🎸😁👍
Ramsey Lewis was definitely an on ramp to jazz for a lot of people. My dad was a huge jazz fan, and artists like Lewis, Hubert Laws, and Earl Klugh were always playing in our house.
In recent years, he'd caught my attention with the sessions he'd been doing during the pandemic. I liked the music, but was delighted to see that he was still going strong even in his mid-80s.
I inherited the records I mentioned above. On hearing of Lewis' passing, I was delighted to find that I owned a copy of "Sun Goddess." It's been (more or less) playing nonstop this week.
Gonna start raving, now, Marshall! I had to jump to the Mott article, and I'll happily return to dig into the Ramsey one! Can't imagine you're as old as moi, but, in July '73 (when this album was released), I was in between high school grad (Houston), and going up to college @ N. TX State.
I KNOW I took this album with me. In fact, I can't recall, of course, or prove it, but I HAD to have read the Edmonds review in Creem, 'cause I was all about the rock mags back then! Did you know other '70s-era rock critics are here on 'Stack? Wayne Robins and Robert Christgau to name two! I've already told Wayne I read him all thru the '70s (which makes me wonder how I ever got homework done!)
You so clearly described Mott's place in the glam universe, and where they accurately fit in the Bowie/Marc/Roxy, et al space! And, an Alvin Stardust reference?!? You can't have known about him (and where his puzzle piece fit) unless you lived thru that time frame! He, of course, never had product released in the US. Too "Briddish"!
I never thought I'd see such a well-conceived piece on Mott and that era here on the 'Stack...I'm stunned I haven't written about Mott yet, myself! But, now, I may not need to....I also loved this album, in particular, but especially "Honaloochee Boogie," to the point where I actually obtained the import (UK) single! I was consumed and obsessed!
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go and enjoy your Ramsey article! Casual readers, do yourself a favor, and subscribe to New Directions in Music (as I do)! Marshall's a champ, and if he can transport me back in time to a personally-beloved era in music, he's worth his weight in glitter!🎼🎸😁👍