The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra was a jazz

big band A big band or jazz orchestra is a type of musical ensemble of jazz music that usually consists of ten or more musicians with four sections: saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and a rhythm section. Big bands originated during the early 1910s an ...

formed by trumpeter

Thad Jones Thaddeus Joseph Jones (March 28, 1923 – August 20, 1986) was an American jazz trumpeter, composer, and bandleader who has been called "one of the all-time greatest jazz trumpet soloists". Biography Thad Jones was born in Pontiac, Michigan, U ...

and drummer

Mel Lewis Melvin Sokoloff (May 10, 1929 – February 2, 1990), known professionally as Mel Lewis, was an American jazz drummer, session musician, professor, and author. He received fourteen Grammy Award nominations. Biography Early years Lewis was ...

in New York in 1965.Lisik/Allen. 50 Years at the Village Vanguard:Thad Jone, Mel Lewis and the Village Vanguard Orchestra. Sky Deck Music, 2017. pp. 8-9 The band performed for twelve years in its original incarnation, including a 1972 tour of the

Soviet Union The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen national ...

during the height of the Cold War. 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 The Village Vanguard is a jazz club at Seventh Avenue South in Greenwich Village, New York City. The club was opened on February 22, 1935, by Max Gordon. Originally, the club presented folk music and beat poetry, but it became primarily a jazz ...

jazz club in New York for five decades.Wong, Herb. ''The Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra'', Jazz Education Journal, Nov./Dec. 2003, Vol. 36, #3, pp. 42-46. The band won Grammy Awards for the album '' Live in Munich'' in 1978 and for the album ''

Monday Night Live at the Village Vanguard ''Monday Night Live at the Village Vanguard'' is an album by the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. It won the Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album in 2009. Most of the songs and arrangements are by Thad Jones, who founded the group as the Tha ...

'' in 2009.

History

Thad Jones played trumpet and cornet. His older brother was

Hank Jones Henry Jones Jr. (July 31, 1918 – May 16, 2010) was an American jazz pianist, bandleader, arranger, and composer. Critics and musicians described Jones as eloquent, lyrical, and impeccable. In 1989, The National Endowment for the Arts honored ...

, a jazz pianist, and his younger brother was

Elvin Jones Elvin Ray Jones (September 9, 1927 – May 18, 2004) was an American jazz drummer of the post-bop era. Most famously a member of John Coltrane's quartet, with whom he recorded from late 1960 to late 1965, Jones appeared on such widely celebrate ...

, a jazz drummer. Thad Jones had worked as a professional since he was 16, when he played with Hank. After leaving the military in 1946, he performed with territory bands and later with

Charles Mingus Charles Mingus Jr. (April 22, 1922 – January 5, 1979) was an American jazz upright bassist, pianist, composer, bandleader, and author. A major proponent of collective improvisation, he is considered to be one of the greatest jazz musicians and ...

. From 1954–1963, he was a member of the

Count Basie Orchestra The Count Basie Orchestra is a 16 to 18 piece big band, one of the most prominent jazz performing groups of the swing era, founded by Count Basie in 1935 and recording regularly from 1936. Despite a brief disbandment at the beginning of the 195 ...

, for whom he composed and arranged. Mel Lewis, a jazz drummer, had been playing in big bands since he was 15, first with

Boyd Raeburn Boyd Albert Raeburn (October 27, 1913 – August 2, 1966) was an American jazz bandleader and bass saxophonist. Career He was born in Faith, South Dakota, United States. Raeburn attended the University of Chicago, where he led a campus band. H ...

, then

Alvino Rey Alvin McBurney (July 1, 1908 – February 24, 2004), known by his stage name Alvino Rey, was an American jazz guitarist and bandleader. Career Alvin McBurney was born in Oakland, California, United States, but grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. Early i ...

Stan Kenton Stanley Newcomb Kenton (December 15, 1911 – August 25, 1979) was an American popular music and jazz artist. As a pianist, composer, arranger and band leader, he led an innovative and influential jazz orchestra for almost four decades. Though K ...

Terry Gibbs Terry Gibbs (born Julius Gubenko; October 13, 1924) is an American jazz vibraphonist and band leader. He has performed or recorded with Tommy Dorsey, Chubby Jackson,Theroux, Gary"Gibbs, Terry".''Grove Music Online''. Oxford University Press. Re ...

, and

Gerald Wilson Gerald Stanley Wilson (September 4, 1918 – September 8, 2014) was an American jazz trumpeter, big band bandleader, composer, arranger, and educator. Born in Mississippi, he was based in Los Angeles from the early 1940s. In addition to being a ...

. In 1961, he toured the Soviet Union with veteran big band leader

Benny Goodman Benjamin David Goodman (May 30, 1909 – June 13, 1986) was an American clarinetist and bandleader known as the "King of Swing". From 1936 until the mid-1940s, Goodman led one of the most popular swing big bands in the United States. His co ...

. After Lewis moved to New York City, he met Thad Jones and started the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra at the end of 1965. Beginning in February 1966, the band played every Monday night at the Village Vanguard. Since Lewis's death in 1990, the band has been called the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, continuing its tradition as the Village Vanguard's house band. The Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra was arguably the most influential big band since the swing era. Lewis brought a loose, small group style of drumming into the structure of a big band. His cymbal work became a hallmark of the Jones/Lewis Orchestra. Jones's arrangements influenced later, large-ensemble composers, such as

Maria Schneider Maria Schneider may refer to: * Maria Schneider (politician) (born 1923), East German politician * Maria Schneider (actress) (1952–2011), French actress * Maria Schneider (musician) (born 1960), American musician and composer * Maria Schneider (ca ...

Bob Brookmeyer Robert Edward "Bob" Brookmeyer (December 19, 1929 – December 15, 2011) was an American jazz valve trombonist, pianist, arranger, and composer. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Brookmeyer first gained widespread public attention as a member of Ge ...

Jim McNeely Jim McNeely (born May 18, 1949) is a jazz pianist, composer, arranger and faculty. Biography Jim McNeely was born in Chicago, Illinois. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Illinois, and moved to New York City in 1975. ...

, and

Bob Mintzer Robert Alan Mintzer (born January 27, 1953) is an American jazz saxophonist, composer, arranger, and big band leader. Early life Mintzer was born and raised in a Jewish family in New Rochelle, New York, on January 27, 1953. He attended the Inter ...

. The Jones/Lewis Orchestra was an unusual band, creating new styles, succeeding in an era when big bands were unpopular and remaining integrated during racially tense periods. The band's members included

Bill Berry William Thomas Berry (born July 31, 1958) is an American musician who was the drummer for the alternative rock band R.E.M. Although best known for his economical drumming style, Berry also played other instruments, including guitar, bass guitar ...

Billy Harper Billy Harper (born January 17, 1943) is an American jazz saxophonist, "one of a generation of John Coltrane, Coltrane-influenced tenor saxophonists" with a distinctively stern, hard-as-nails sound on his instrument.Chris KelseyBilly Harper Biogr ...

, Bob Brookmeyer,

Danny Stiles Danny Stiles (December 2, 1923 – March 11, 2011) was a radio personality at WEVD-AM, WNYC, WNSW, WJDM and WPAT in the New York City market. He worked on the radio for 63 years in the New York City area, up to the time of his death. Early li ...

Eddie Daniels Eddie Daniels (born October 19, 1941) is an American musician and composer. Although he is best known as a jazz clarinetist, he has also played saxophone and flute as well as classical music on clarinet. Early life, family and education Daniel ...

George Mraz George Mraz (born Jiří Mráz; 9 September 1944 – 16 September 2021) was a Czech-born American jazz bassist and alto saxophonist. He was a member of Oscar Peterson's group, and worked with Pepper Adams, Stan Getz, Michel Petrucciani, Stephan ...

, Hank Jones,

Jerome Richardson Jerome Richardson (November 15, 1920 – June 23, 2000) was an American jazz musician, tenor saxophonist, and flute player, who also played soprano sax, alto sax, baritone sax, clarinet, bass clarinet, alto flute and piccolo. He played with Ch ...

Jerry Dodgion Jerry Dodgion (born August 29, 1932) is an American jazz saxophonist and flautist. Dodgion was born in Richmond, California. He played alto sax in middle school and began working locally in the San Francisco area in the 1950s. He played in bands w ...

Jimmy Knepper James Minter Knepper (November 22, 1927 – June 14, 2003) was an American jazz trombonist. In addition to his own recordings as leader, Knepper performed and recorded with Charlie Barnet, Woody Herman, Claude Thornhill, Stan Kenton, Benny Goo ...

Joe Farrell Joseph Carl Firrantello (December 16, 1937 – January 10, 1986), known as Joe Farrell, was an American jazz multi-instrumentalist who primarily performed as a saxophonist and flutist. He is best known for a series of albums under his own name o ...

Jon Faddis Jon Faddis (born July 24, 1953) is an American jazz trumpet player, conductor, composer, and educator, renowned for both his playing and for his expertise in the field of music education. Upon his first appearance on the scene, he became known ...

Marvin Stamm Marvin Louis Stamm (born May 23, 1939) is an American jazz trumpeter. Career Stamm was born in Memphis, Tennessee, United States. Stamm began on trumpet at age twelve. He attended North Texas State University, where he was a member of the One O ...

Pepper Adams Park Frederick "Pepper" Adams III (October 8, 1930 – September 10, 1986) was an American jazz baritone saxophonist and composer. He composed 42 pieces, was the leader on eighteen albums spanning 28 years, and participated in 600 sessions as a s ...

Quentin Jackson Quentin "Butter" Jackson

, Richard Davis, Richard Williams,

Roland Hanna Roland Pembroke Hanna (February 10, 1932 – November 13, 2002) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and teacher. Biography Hanna studied classical piano from the age of 11, but was strongly interested in jazz, having been introduced to i ...

, and

Snooky Young Eugene Edward "Snooky" Young (February 3, 1919 – May 11, 2011) was an American jazz trumpeter. He was known for his mastery of the plunger mute, with which he was able to create a wide range of sounds. Biography Young was lead trumpeter of th ...

Awards and honors

Grammy Awards

*Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra and Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra , - , style="text-align:center;", , ''Live At The Village Vanguard'' (album) , rowspan="12", Best instrumental Jazz Performance, Big Band , , - , style="text-align:center;", , '' Central Park North'' (album) , , - , style="text-align:center;", , ''Consummation'' (album) , , - , style="text-align:center;", , ''Potpourri'' (album) , , - , style="text-align:center;", , ''New Life'' (album) , , - , style="text-align:center;", , ''Live In Munich'' (album) , , - , style="text-align:center;", , ''Naturally'' (album) , , - , style="text-align:center;", , ''Bob Brookmeyer - Composer/Arranger'' (album) , , - , style="text-align:center;", , ''Make Me Smile & Other New Works by Bob Brookmeyer'' (album) , , - , style="text-align:center;", , ''20 Years At The Village Vanguard'' (album) , , - , style="text-align:center;", , ''The Definitive Thad Jones'' (album) , , - , style="text-align:center;", , ''The Definitive Thad Jones (Volume 2: Live from the Village Vanguard)'' (album) , , - *The Vanguard Jazz OrchestraOfficial awards results for Grammy.com
/ref> , - , style="text-align:center;", , ''Can I Persuade You?'' (album) , rowspan="5", Best instrumental Jazz Performance, Big Band , , - , style="text-align:center;", , ''The Way: Music Of Slide Hampton'' (album) , , - , style="text-align:center;", , ''Up From The Skies: Music Of Jim McNeely'' (album) , , - , style="text-align:center;", , ''Monday Night Live At The Village Vanguard'' (album) , , - , style="text-align:center;", , ''OverTime: Music Of Bob Brookmeyer'' (album) , , -

From ''DownBeat''

Discography

The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra

* ''

All My Yesterdays ''All My Yesterdays'' is a big band jazz recording of the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra playing at the Village Vanguard club in New York City in February and March 1966. The February 7 tracks are the first recordings of the group at this ...

'' (recorded 1966, released

Resonance Resonance describes the phenomenon of increased amplitude that occurs when the frequency of an applied periodic force (or a Fourier component of it) is equal or close to a natural frequency of the system on which it acts. When an oscillatin ...

, 2016) - Live recording including the band's first performance (Monday, Feb. 7, 1966 at the Village Vanguard) * '' Presenting Thad Jones/Mel Lewis and the Jazz Orchestra'' ( Solid State, 1966) * '' Presenting Joe Williams and Thad Jones/Mel Lewis, the Jazz Orchestra'' (Solid State, 1966) - with Joe Williams * '' Live at the Village Vanguard'' (Solid State, 1967) * '' The Big Band Sound of Thad Jones/Mel Lewis featuring Miss Ruth Brown'' (Solid State, 1968) - with

Ruth Brown Ruth Alston Brown (; January 12, 1928 – November 17, 2006) was an American singer-songwriter and actress, sometimes referred to as the " Queen of R&B". She was noted for bringing a pop music style to R&B music in a series of hit songs for Atl ...

* '' Monday Night'' (Solid State, 1968) * '' Jazz Casual – Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra...'' (recorded 1968) - DVD * '' Central Park North'' (Solid State/Blue Note, 1969) * ''

Basle, 1969 ''Basle, 1969'' (also released as ''Live on Tour Switzerland'') is a big band jazz album recorded by the The Thad Jones/ Mel Lewis Orchestra, Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra in Basle (Basel), Switzerland for a Swiss radio broadcast. It was n ...

'' (TCB, 1969

el. 1996 EL, El or el may refer to: Religion * El (deity), a Semitic word for "God" People * EL (rapper) (born 1983), stage name of Elorm Adablah, a Ghanaian rapper and sound engineer * El DeBarge, music artist * El Franco Lee (1949–2016), American p ...

* ''

Consummation In many traditions and statutes of civil or religious law, the consummation of a marriage, often called simply ''consummation'', is the first (or first officially credited) act of sexual intercourse between two people, following their marriage t ...

'' (Solid State/

Blue Note In jazz and blues, a blue note is a note that—for expressive purposes—is sung or played at a slightly different pitch from standard. Typically the alteration is between a quartertone and a semitone, but this varies depending on the musical co ...

, 1970) * '' Live in Tokyo'' (

Denon is a Japanese electronics company started in 1910 by Frederick Whitney Horn, an American entrepreneur. Denon produced the first cylinder audio media in Japan and players to play them. Decades later, Denon was involved in the early stages of de ...

, 1974) * ''

Potpourri Potpourri ( ) is a mixture of dried, naturally fragrant plant materials used to provide a gentle natural scent, commonly in residential settings. It is often placed in a decorative bowl. The word "potpourri" comes into English from the French ...

'' (

Philadelphia International Philadelphia International Records (PIR) was an American record label based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1971 by songwriting and production duo Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff along with their longtime collaborator Thom Bell. I ...

, 1974) * '' Thad Jones/Mel Lewis and Manuel De Sica'' (

Pausa In linguistics, pausa (Latin for 'break', from Greek παῦσις, ''pausis'' 'stopping, ceasing') is the hiatus between prosodic declination units. The concept is somewhat broad, as it is primarily used to refer to allophones that occur in cer ...

, 1974) * ''

Suite for Pops ''Suite for Pops'' is a 1975 big band jazz album recorded by the The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra and released on the A&M Records, A&M Horizon label. Track listing LP record, LP side A: # "Meetin' Place" # ...

'' (

Horizon The horizon is the apparent line that separates the surface of a celestial body from its sky when viewed from the perspective of an observer on or near the surface of the relevant body. This line divides all viewing directions based on whether i ...

/ A&M, 1975) * '' New Life: Dedicated to Max Gordon'' (Horizon/A&M, 1975) * '' Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra With Rhoda Scott'' (aka ''Rhoda Scott in New York with the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra'') (

Barclay Barclay may refer to: People * Barclay (surname) * Clan Barclay Places * Barclay, Kansas * Barclay, Maryland, a town in Queen Anne's County * Barclay, Baltimore, Maryland, a neighborhood * Barclay, Nevada, a town in Lincoln County * Barclay, ...

, 1976) * '' Live in Munich'' (Horizon/A&M, 1976) * ''

It Only Happens Every Time ''It Only Happens Every Time'' is a 1977 big band jazz album recorded by the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra with singer Monica Zetterlund in Helsinki and Stockholm and released by EMI in Europe and by Inner City Records in the US. Track l ...

'' (

EMI EMI Group Limited (originally an initialism for Electric and Musical Industries, also referred to as EMI Records Ltd. or simply EMI) was a British transnational conglomerate founded in March 1931 in London. At the time of its break-up in 201 ...

, 1977;

Inner City The term ''inner city'' has been used, especially in the United States, as a euphemism for majority-minority lower-income residential districts that often refer to rundown neighborhoods, in a downtown or city centre area. Sociologists some ...

, 1978) - with

Monica Zetterlund Monica Zetterlund (born Eva Monica Nilsson; 20 September 1937 – 12 May 2005) was a Sweden, Swedish jazz Singing, singer and Actor, actress. Through her lifetime, she starred in over 10 Swedish film productions and recorded over 20 studio ...

* '' Body and Soul'' (aka ''Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra in Europe'') (

West Wind A west wind is a wind that originates in the west and blows in an eastward direction. Mythology and Literature In European tradition, it has usually been considered the mildest and most favorable of the directional winds. In Greek mythology, ...

, 1978) * '' A Touch of Class'' (West Wind, 1978) * '' The Blue Note Reissue Series: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis'' (recorded 1966–1970, Blue Note) (compilation) - 2LP * '' The Complete Solid State Recordings of the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra'' (recorded 1966–1970,

Mosaic A mosaic is a pattern or image made of small regular or irregular pieces of colored stone, glass or ceramic, held in place by plaster/mortar, and covering a surface. Mosaics are often used as floor and wall decoration, and were particularly pop ...

) (compilation) - 5CD * '' In Europe'' (ITM, 2007) (compilation) * '' The Complete (Live in) Poland Concerts 1976 & 1978'' (Gambit, 2009) (compilation)

The Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra

* ''Naturally'' (

Telarc Telarc International Corporation is an American audiophile independent record label founded in 1977 by two classically trained musicians and former teachers, Jack Renner and Robert Woods. Based in Cleveland, Ohio, the label has had a long associ ...

, 1979) * ''Play the Compositions of Herbie Hancock (Live in Montreux)'' ( MPS 1980;

, 1982) * ''Bob Brookmeyer - Composer/Arranger (Recorded in Concert at the Village Vanguard, February 1980'' (Gryphon, 1980) * ''Make Me Smile & Other New Works by Bob Brookmeyer'' (aka ''Mel Lewis and the Jazz Orchestra...Featuring the Music of Bob Brookmeyer'') ive(Finesse/CBS, 1982; Red Baron/CBS, 1993) * ''20 Years at the Village Vanguard'' (

Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...

, 1985) * ''Soft Lights and Hot Music'' (Musicmasters, 1988) * ''The Definitive Thad Jones'' ( Musicmasters, 1989) * ''The Definitive Thad Jones (Volume 2: Live from the Village Vanguard)'' (Musicmasters, 1990) * ''To You: A Tribute to Mel Lewis'' (Musicmasters, 1991)

The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra

* ''Lickety Split: Music of Jim McNeely'' (

New World The term ''New World'' is often used to mean the majority of Earth's Western Hemisphere, specifically the Americas."America." ''The Oxford Companion to the English Language'' (). McArthur, Tom, ed., 1992. New York: Oxford University Press, p. 3 ...

, 1997) * ''Thad Jones Legacy'' (New World, 1999) * ''Can I Persuade You?'' ( Planet Arts, 2002) * ''The Way: Music of Slide Hampton'' (Planet Arts, 2004) * ''Up from the Skies: Music of Jim McNeely'' (Planet Arts, 2006) * ''

'' (Planet Arts, 2008) - 2CD * ''Forever Lasting: Live in Tokyo'' (Planet Arts, 2011) - 2CD * ''OverTime: Music of Bob Brookmeyer'' (Planet Arts, 2014)

Alumni

;Lead trumpet *

(1966–1972) *

(1972–1975) *

Al Porcino Al Porcino (May 14, 1925 – December 31, 2013) was an American lead trumpeter. He was born in New York, United States. Porcino began playing professionally in 1943, and played in many of the big bands of the 1940s and 1950s, including those of Ge ...

(1975–1976) * Earl Gardner (1976–2005) * Nick Marchione (2005–present) ;Trumpets *

(1966–1979) * Danny Stiles (1966) * Jimmy Owens (1966) *

(1966–1968) *

Jimmy Nottingham James Edward Nottingham, Jr. (December 15, 1925 – November 16, 1978), also known as Sir James, was an American jazz trumpeter and flugelhorn player. He was born in New York, United States, and started performing professionally in 1943 in Brookl ...

(1966–1969) * Richard Williams (1966–1969) *

(1966–1973) *

Randy Brecker Randal Edward Brecker (born November 27, 1945) is an American trumpeter, flugelhornist, and composer. His versatility has made him a popular studio musician who has recorded with acts in jazz, rock, and R&B. Early life Brecker was born on Nov ...

(1968) * Danny Moore (1968–1971) *

(1969–1970 and 1975–1976) *

Cecil Bridgewater Cecil Bridgewater (born October 10, 1942) is an American jazz trumpeter. Biography Bridgewater was born in Urbana, Illinois and studied at the University of Illinois. He and brother Ron formed the Bridgewater Brothers Band in 1969, and in the 197 ...

(1971–1976) * Stephen Furtado (1972–1975) * Jim Bossy (1972–1975) *

Lew Soloff Lewis Michael Soloff (February 20, 1944–March 8, 2015) was an American jazz trumpeter, composer, and actor. Biography From his birth place of New York City, United States, he studied trumpet at the Eastman School of Music and the Juilliard Sc ...

(1975) * Sinclair Acey (1975–1976) *

Waymon Reed Waymon Reed (January 10, 1940, Fayetteville, North Carolina - November 25, 1983, Nashville, Tennessee) was an American jazz trumpeter. While he was principally a bebop soloist, he also worked in rhythm and blues ( R&B). He never had any children, a ...

(1975–1977) * Earl Gardner (1975–2005) * Lynn Nicholson (1976–1977) * Frank Gordon (1976–1977) * Jeff Davis (1976–1977) * Larry Moses (1977–1980) *

Laurie Frink Laurie Ann Frink (August 8, 1951, Pender, Nebraska – July 13, 2013, New York City) was an American jazz trumpeter who worked primarily in big band idioms. Frink attended the University of Nebraska (1969-1972) and studied under Jimmy Maxwell (19 ...

(1978–1987) *

Irvin Stokes Irvin Stokes (born November 11, 1926, Greensboro, North Carolina) is an American jazz trumpeter. Stokes moved to New York City in 1947 and recorded with a Charlie Singleton sextet in 1949. Throughout the 1950s he worked in the big bands of Tiny B ...

(1978) * Simo Salminen (1978–1980) * Ron Tooley (1978–1980) * John Marshall (1979–1983) * Joe Mosello (1980–2005) *

Tom Harrell Tom Harrell (born June 16, 1946) is an American jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist, composer, and arranger. Voted Trumpeter of the Year of 2018 by ''Jazz Journalists Association'', Harrell has won awards and grants throughout his career, including mul ...

(1982) * Jim Powell (1982–1995) * Glenn Drewes (1983–2005) *

Ryan Kisor Ryan Kisor (born April 12, 1973) is an American jazz trumpeter. A native of Sioux City, Iowa, Kisor learned trumpet from his father, Larry Kisor, and started playing in a local dance band (the Eddie Skeets Orchestra) at age ten. Kisor began clas ...

(1995–1997) * Scott Wendholt (1997–present) * Frank Greene (2005–2009) *

Terell Stafford Terell Stafford (born November 25, 1966) is a professional jazz trumpet player and current Director of Jazz Studies at the Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University. Terell Stafford was born in Miami, Florida, and raised in both Chi ...

(2005–present) * Tanya Darby (2009–2016) * John Chudoba (2016-present) ;Lead trombone *

(1966–1968) *

Garnett Brown Garnett Brown (January 31, 1936 – October 9, 2021) was a jazz trombonist who worked with The Crusaders, Herbie Hancock, Lionel Hampton, Earth Wind and Fire and others. Born in Memphis, Tennessee, he graduated from the University of Arkans ...

(1968–1969) *

Eddie Bert Edward Joseph Bertolatus (May 16, 1922 – September 27, 2012), also known as Eddie Bert, was an American jazz trombonist. Music career He was born in Yonkers, New York, United States. Bert received a degree and a teaching license from the Manha ...

(1969–1972) *

(1972–1975) * Billy Campbell (1975–1977) * John Mosca (1977–2018) *

Marshall Gilkes Marshall Gilkes (born September 30, 1978) is an American jazz trombonist and composer. Biography Marshall Gilkes was born in Camp Springs, Maryland to a musical family; his mother was a classical vocalist and pianist and his father was a Eupho ...

(2019-present) ;Trombones * Jack Rains (1966) *

Tom McIntosh Thomas S. "Tom" McIntosh (February 6, 1927 - July 26, 2017) was an American jazz trombonist, composer, arranger, and conductor. McIntosh was born in Baltimore, Maryland, the eldest of six siblings. He also had an elder half-sibling by his fath ...

(1966–1967) *

(1966–1969) *

Jimmy Cleveland James Milton Cleveland (May 3, 1926 – August 23, 2008) was an American jazz trombonist born in Wartrace, Tennessee.

(1968) *

(1968–1975) *

Benny Powell Benny Powell (March 1, 1930 – June 26, 2010) was an American jazz trombonist. He played both standard (tenor) trombone and bass trombone. Biography Born Benjamin Gordon Powell Jr in New Orleans, Louisiana, he first played professionally ...

(1969–1971) *

Quentin Jackson Quentin "Butter" Jackson

(1972–1975) * Billy Campbell (1972–1977) * Alex Kofman (1975) *

Janice Robinson Janice Robinson (born 8 December 1967) is an American singer and songwriter, initially known as a member of 1990s Italian Eurodance group Livin' Joy before she embarked on a solo career. Early life and career Robinson, raised in Garfield, New ...

(1975–1976) * John Mosca (1975–2018) * Clifford Adams (1976–1977) * Lolly Bienenfeld (1978–1980) * Lee Robertson (1978–1981) *

Ed Neumeister Ed Neumeister (born 1952) is a composer and jazz trombonist. He was born in Topeka, Kansas. An early 2000s collaboration with Jay Clayton and Fritz Pauer was released as the album ''3 for the Road''. Around 2012, Neumeister took teaching posts a ...

(1981–1999) * Jason Jackson (1998–present) *

Luis Bonilla Luis Diego Bonilla (October 12, 1965) is an American jazz trombonist of Costa Rican descent. He is also a producer, composer, and educator. Biography Early life, musical education and influences Luis Bonilla was born and raised in Eagle Rock, C ...

(1999–2019) * Dion Tucker (2019-present) ;Bass trombone * Cliff Heather (1966–1974) * Dave Taylor (1974–1975) * Earl McIntyre (1975–1998) *

Douglas Purviance Douglas Purviance (born July 18, 1952 in Turner Station, Maryland) is a jazz trombonist. He began his professional career as a member of the Stan Kenton Orchestra, playing bass trombone and tuba from 1975 to 1977. Mostly, he works as a studio sess ...

(1978–present) ;French horn * Stephanie Fauber (1979–1991) ;Saxophones ;Lead alto saxophone *

(1966–1970) *

(1971–1978) *

Dick Oatts Richard Dennis Oatts (born April 2, 1953) is an American jazz saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and educator. Biography While growing up in Des Moines, Iowa, Oatts gained an interest in music from his father, Jack Oatts, who was a sa ...

(1978–present) ;Second alto saxophone *

(1966–1970) *

Ed Xiques Edward Fabian "Ed" Xiques, Jr. (born October 9, 1939 – December 4, 2020) was an American jazz saxophonist. Early life and education Xiques was born on Staten Island and raised in Pelham Manor, New York. When he was nine years old, his father ...

(1971–1977) *

(1977–1978) *

Steve Coleman Steve Coleman (born September 20, 1956) is an American saxophonist, composer, bandleader and music theorist. In 2014, he was named a MacArthur Fellow. Early life Steve Coleman was born and grew up in South Side, Chicago. He started playing al ...

(1978–1980) *

Kenny Garrett Kenny Garrett (born October 9, 1960) is an American post-bop jazz musician and composer who gained recognition in his youth as a member of the Duke Ellington Orchestra and for his time with Miles Davis's band. His primary instruments are alto and ...

(1980–1982) *

Bill Easley Bill Easley (born January 13, 1946) is an American jazz musician who plays saxophone, flute, and clarinet. Early life and education Easley was born and raised in Olean, New York. He began playing music at the age of 13 and studied at Memphis S ...

(1982) * Ted Nash (1982–1991) * Billy Drewes (1991–present) ;First tenor saxophone *

(1966–1969) *

Seldon Powell Seldon Powell (15 November 1928 – 25 January 1997) was an American soul jazz, swing, and R&B tenor saxophonist and flautist born in Lawrenceville, Virginia. He worked with Tab Smith (1949), Lucky Millinder (1949–51), Neal Hefti, and Louis Be ...

(1968) *

Joe Henderson Joe Henderson (April 24, 1937 – June 30, 2001) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. In a career spanning more than four decades, Henderson played with many of the leading American players of his day and recorded for several prominent l ...

(1969) *

(1970–1975) * Frank Foster (1975) * Larry Schneider (1975–1978) *

(1977 summer tour) *

Bob Rockwell Bob Rockwell (born May 1945 in Miami, Oklahoma) is a jazz saxophonist. He was born in the U.S. but emigrated to Denmark in 1983. Biography Rockwell was raised in Minneapolis, and in his early career he toured the U.S. in rock and rhythm and blu ...

(1978–1980) *

Joe Lovano Joseph Salvatore Lovano (born December 29, 1952)"Joe Lovano." ''Contemporary Musicians''. Vol. 13. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale, 1994. Retrieved via ''Biography in Context'' database, May 5, 2017. is an American jazz saxophonist, alto clarin ...

(1980–1991) *

(1981 Rome tour) *

Rich Perry Rich Perry is an American jazz tenor saxophonist from Cleveland, Ohio, Cleveland, Ohio. Perry attended Bowling Green State University for a year before moving to New York. He toured with the Glenn Miller Orchestra in 1975 and with The Thad Jones ...

(1991–present) ;Second tenor saxophone *

(1966–1972) * Ron Bridgewater (1972–1975) * Gregory Herbert (1975–1977) *

(1977–1980) * Gary Pribeck (1980–1982) * Ralph Lalama (1983–present) ;Baritone saxophone *

(1966–1977) * Eddie Xiques (1977–1978) * Charles Davis (1978) * Gary Brown (1979) * Gary Pribeck (1979–1980) *

Gary Smulyan Gary Smulyan (born April 4, 1956) is a jazz musician who plays baritone saxophone. He studied at Hofstra University before working with Woody Herman. He leads a trio with bassist Ray Drummond and drummer Kenny Washington (musician), Kenny Washi ...

(1980–present) * Frank Basile (regular sub) ;Guitar * Sam Herman (1966–1968) ;Piano *

(1966) *

(1966–1975) *

Walter Norris Walter Norris (December 27, 1931 – October 29, 2011) was an American pianist and composer. Biography Early life and career Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, on December 27, 1931, Norris first studied piano at home with his mother, then with J ...

(1975–1976) *

Harold Danko Harold Danko (born June 13, 1947 in Ohio) is an American jazz pianist. Danko attended Youngstown State University. Among his credits are work in the big bands of Woody Herman and Thad Jones/Mel Lewis, as well as smaller ensembles with Gerry Mul ...

(1976–1978) *

(1978–1984) *

Kenny Werner Kenny Werner (born November 19, 1951) is an American jazz pianist, composer, and author. Early life Born in Brooklyn, New York, on November 19, 1951 and then growing up in Oceanside, Long Island, Werner began playing and performing at a young a ...

(1984–1995) *

(1995–2019) *

Adam Birnbaum Adam Birnbaum (born 1979) is an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger. He was the winner of the 2004 American Pianists Association Cole Porter Fellowship in Jazz. Life and career Birnbaum was born in 1979.

(2019-present) *

Michael Weiss Michael Weiss may refer to: Sports * Michael Weiss (figure skater) (born 1976), American former figure skater * Michael Weiss (swimmer) (born 1991), American swimmer * Michael Weiss (triathlete) (born 1981), Austrian triathlete and cyclist * Mich ...

(regular sub) ;Bass * Richard Davis (1966–1972) *

Gene Perla Gene Perla (born March 1, 1940) is an American jazz bassist. Career At the Berklee School of Music and the Boston Conservatory Perla concentrated on piano before moving to double bass. In 1969 he spent one year as a member of the Woody Herman Or ...

(1972) *

(1972–1976) * Steve Gilmore (1975–1976) *

Rufus Reid Rufus Reid (born February 10, 1944, in Atlanta, Georgia) is an American jazz bassist, educator, and composer. Biography Reid was raised in Sacramento, California, where he played the trumpet through junior high and high school. Upon graduation ...

(1977–1980) *

Ray Drummond Ray Drummond (born November 23, 1946 in Brookline, Massachusetts) is an American jazz bassist and teacher. He also has an MBA from Stanford University, hence his linkage to the Stanford Jazz Workshop. He can be heard on hundreds of albums and co- ...

(1978) * Bob Bowman (1976 and 1979) * John Lockwood (1980) * Marc Johnson (1981–1982) *

Dennis Irwin __NOTOC__ Dennis Irwin (November 28, 1951 in Birmingham, Alabama - March 10, 2008) was an American jazz double bassist. He toured and recorded with John Scofield and the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra among others, and played on over 500 albums. Bio ...

(1983–2008) * Phil Palombi (2008–2009) * David Wong (2009–present) ;Drums *

(1966–1990) *

Dennis Mackrel Dennis Mackrel (born April 3, 1962) is an American jazz drummer, composer, and arranger who was a member of the Count Basie Orchestra and the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. Career The son of two jazz enthusiasts, Mackrel started playing drums at age ...

(1990–1991) *

Danny Gottlieb Daniel Richard Gottlieb (born April 18, 1953) is an American drummer. He was a founding member of the Pat Metheny Group and was co-founder of Elements with Mark Egan. Biography Gottlieb was born in New York City on April 18, 1953. He took lesso ...

(1991–1992) * John Riley (1992–present) ;Vocals *

Dee Dee Bridgewater Dee Dee Bridgewater (née Denise Garrett, May 27, 1950) is an American jazz singer and actress. She is a three-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, as well as a Tony Award-winning stage actress. For 23 years, she was the host of National ...

(1971–1974) *

(guest) * Joe Williams (guest)

References

External links

''Downbeat'' interview with Thad Jones and Mel LewisVanguard Jazz Orchestra Official WebsiteVillage VanguardJazz Assisi, featuring Vanguard Jazz Orchestra.50 Years at the Village Vanguard: Thad Jones, Mel Lewis and the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Thad, Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra, The 1965 establishments in New York City 1978 disestablishments in New York (state) American jazz ensembles from New York City Hard bop ensembles Big bands Swing music Musical groups from New York City Blue Note Records artists Jazz musicians from New York (state) Musical groups established in 1965 Musical groups disestablished in 1978