RIP Ramsey Lewis

He was a great talent with a tasteful style and a unique sound that naturally lended itself over to huge crossover success. No matter what he did, he did it well. I like that most of his output was with smart, snappy small combos given room to breathe; and his 70s stuff has a lot of quirky appeal. Basically his entire body of work from probably 1962 or 1963 until 1975 is worth listening to as a kind of "straight" foil to a lot of the more progressive work going on in mainstream jazz. The unusual thing with Lewis is how rewarding his material consistently proved to be. I don't think there's anyone else with that level of mainstream recognition left alive, now, who so singly represents a link to that unique Chicago sound, punchy and R&B-influenced, and which made such a huge impact on what we now call "funk" music, than Ramsey Lewis: he was there when it was born, he helped to nurture it with the extraordinary talent of the musicians in his lineups, and he saw it mature into some of the cheesier styles ("smooth jazz"; "quiet storm") which, without the classy touch of a statesman-like pianist such as his, could not achieve that unironic, genuine, muscular sound that he could so masterfully conjure up. What a great artist. R.I.P.

I'm sure that's what doolittle meant to say.

I never got to see him, but I always enjoyed his most well-known ditty. So simple, so in the groove. Very Vince Guaraldi in style...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsFST-7Hx-Y

Listen to that and tell me your hips didn't shimmy & shake.

Thanks, ateix.

Happy to hear the link, Lance, and doolittle, too.

Thanks ateix, perfectly said!

RIP to a legend 

I found him more miss than hit.  I like maybe 20% of what I'be heard, and I've heard most of it.  The mid-60s albums with the Young-Holt rhythm section are generally solid, but other than a 1977 session he did with Earth, Wind & Fire, I find his stuff soporific disposable pop jazz.
 

I tried giving him one more chance at a Jazz Night At The Hollywood Bowl show in the early 2000s, and it was so bad that I left half way through.  The worst part of it was that the stage manager practically dragged Dave Brubeck off the stage to get Ramsey on.  Brubeck was reunited with drummer Joe Morello, and was playing a hot set.  That was the last time I saw Brubeck.

R.I.P. to Ramsey, he seemed like an alright enough guy, but for the most part I'll take a hard pass on his records.

I guess The In Crowd didn't get Dave's hips shimmying & shaking.

Uh, no Lance, that record had Eldee Young and Redd Holt, on it, the period of his career I said I like.  But please, keep making up shit, and acting like a fool.

I've always said that there are really only two types of people in the world, fools & assholes, and I'll always choose to be the fool.

You can pretend to choose what you want Tom, but when you slammed my business here a few weeks ago for no cause, that marked you as an asshole.  Own it dude.

Great pianist in the jazz & pop world- I have several albums. I enjoyed his  syndicated radio show about 20 years ago.

I'm sure that's what doolittle meant to say

 

Your right Lance but I'm to humble to show off. wink

 

 

I love it when a jazz artist figures out how to get paid.  People like to dog Wes Montgomery about his covers of pop tunes but he had a houseful of children to feed.

Everything does not have to flame to have soul, soul on ice if you will.

RIP, Cool Cat.