The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra was a jazz big band formed by trumpeter Thad Jones and drummer Mel Lewis 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 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 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'' 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, 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 Territory bands were dance bands that crisscrossed specific regions of the United States from the 1920s through the 1960s. Beginning in the 1920s, the bands typically had 8 to 12 musicians. These bands typically played one-nighters, six or seven n ...

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, 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, Stan Kenton, Terry Gibbs, and Gerald Wilson. 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, Bob Brookmeyer,

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, Bob Brookmeyer, Danny Stiles, Eddie Daniels, George Mraz, Hank Jones, Jerome Richardson, Jerry Dodgion, Jimmy Knepper, Joe Farrell,

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, Pepper Adams,

Quentin Jackson Quentin "Butter" Jackson

, Richard Davis, Richard Williams, Roland Hanna, and Snooky Young.

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'' (recorded 1966, released Resonance, 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 Solid state, or solid matter, is one of the four fundamental states of matter. Solid state may also refer to: Electronics * Solid-state electronics, circuits built of solid materials * Solid state ionics, study of ionic conductors and their u ...

, 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 ''Monday Night, Recorded Live at the Village Vanguard'' is a 1968 big band jazz album recorded at the Village Vanguard in New York City by The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra and released on the Solid State Records. All tracks are included on Mo ...

'' (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 * '' Consummation'' (Solid State/ Blue Note, 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'' ( Philadelphia International, 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 ''Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra With Rhoda Scott'' (a.k.a. ''Rhoda Scott in New York with the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra'') is a 1976 big band jazz album recorded by jazz organist Rhoda Scott with the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra and ...

'' (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, 1977; Inner City, 1978) - with Monica Zetterlund * '' Body and Soul'' (aka ''Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra in Europe'') ( West Wind, 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) (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, 1979) * ''Play the Compositions of Herbie Hancock (Live in Montreux)'' (

MPS MPS, M.P.S., MPs, or mps may refer to: Science and technology * Mucopolysaccharidosis, genetic lysosomal storage disorder * Mononuclear phagocyte system, cells in mammalian biology * Myofascial pain syndrome * Metallopanstimulin * Potassium perox ...

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

Alumni

;Lead trumpet * Snooky Young (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 * Thad Jones (1966–1979) * Danny Stiles (1966) * Jimmy Owens (1966) *

(1966–1968) * Jimmy Nottingham (1966–1969) * Richard Williams (1966–1969) * Marvin Stamm (1966–1973) * Randy Brecker (1968) * Danny Moore (1968–1971) *

(1969–1970 and 1975–1976) * Cecil Bridgewater (1971–1976) * Stephen Furtado (1972–1975) * Jim Bossy (1972–1975) * Lew Soloff (1975) * Sinclair Acey (1975–1976) * Waymon Reed (1975–1977) * Earl Gardner (1975–2005) * Lynn Nicholson (1976–1977) * Frank Gordon (1976–1977) * Jeff Davis (1976–1977) * Larry Moses (1977–1980) * Laurie Frink (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 (1982) * Jim Powell (1982–1995) * Glenn Drewes (1983–2005) * Ryan Kisor (1995–1997) * Scott Wendholt (1997–present) * Frank Greene (2005–2009) * Terell Stafford (2005–present) * Tanya Darby (2009–2016) * John Chudoba (2016-present) ;Lead trombone * Bob Brookmeyer (1966–1968) * Garnett Brown (1968–1969) * Eddie Bert (1969–1972) * Jimmy Knepper (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) * Garnett Brown (1966–1969) * Jimmy Cleveland (1968) * Jimmy Knepper (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 (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 ...

(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 * Jerome Richardson (1966–1970) * Jerry Dodgion (1971–1978) * Dick Oatts (1978–present) ;Second alto saxophone * Jerry Dodgion (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) * Dick Oatts (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 (1980–1982) * Bill Easley (1982) * Ted Nash (1982–1991) * Billy Drewes (1991–present) ;First tenor saxophone * Joe Farrell (1966–1969) * Seldon Powell (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) * Billy Harper (1970–1975) * Frank Foster (1975) * Larry Schneider (1975–1978) * Dick Oatts (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 ...

(1978–1980) * Joe Lovano (1980–1991) *

(1981 Rome tour) * Rich Perry (1991–present) ;Second tenor saxophone * Eddie Daniels (1966–1972) * Ron Bridgewater (1972–1975) *

Gregory Herbert Gregory Herbert (May 19, 1947 – January 31, 1978) was an American jazz saxophonist and flautist. Herbert started on alto saxophone at age 12. In 1964 he did a short stint in the Duke Ellington Orchestra, then studied at Temple University from 1 ...

(1975–1977) * Rich Perry (1977–1980) * Gary Pribeck (1980–1982) * Ralph Lalama (1983–present) ;Baritone saxophone * Pepper Adams (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) * Roland Hanna (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 (1976–1978) *

(1978–1984) * Kenny Werner (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 (regular sub) ;Bass * Richard Davis (1966–1972) * Gene Perla (1972) * George Mraz (1972–1976) *

Steve Gilmore Rear Admiral Stephen Richard Gilmore, (born 17 January 1961) is a retired senior officer of the Royal Australian Navy. He served as Commander Australian Fleet from October 2009 until December 2011, and as the Head Australian Defence Staff (Wash ...

(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 Marc Johnson may refer to: Musicians *Marc Johnson (musician) (born 1953), American jazz musician * Marc Johnson (rapper) (born 1979), Danish rapper known as Johnson *Marc Johnson, cello player with the Vermeer Quartet *Marc Johnson, member of the ...

(1981–1982) * Dennis Irwin (1983–2008) * Phil Palombi (2008–2009) * David Wong (2009–present) ;Drums * Mel Lewis (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 a ...

(1990–1991) * Danny Gottlieb (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