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Thad Jones and Mel Lewis

In 1966, trumpeter-composer Thad Jones (1923-86) and drummer Mel Lewis (1929-90) assembled a cream-of-the-crop big band that became a jazz institution, a musicians' ensemble that played for sheer joy. Geoffrey Smith salutes their cutting-edge class and excitement.

1 hour

Last on

Sun 8 May 201600:00
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra

    Mean What You Say

    • Presenting Thad Jones/Mel Lewis and 'The Jazz Orchestra'.
    • United Artists.
    • 6.

  • Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra

    Willow Weep For Me

    • All My Yesterdays.
    • Resonance.
    • 5.

  • Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra

    Big Dipper

    • All My Yesterdays.
    • Resonance.
    • 3.

  • Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra

    Balanced Scales = Justice

    • Thad Jones Mel Lewis and the Jazz Orchestra.
    • Solid State.
    • 3.

  • Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra

    Don't Get Sassy

    • Live At The Village Vanguard.
    • Blue Note.
    • 4.

  • Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra

    A Child Is Born

    • Consummation.
    • Blue Note.
    • 4.

  • Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra

    Cherry Juice

    • New Life.
    • A&M.
    • 4.

  • Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra

    The Little Pixie

    • Live At The Village Vanguard.
    • Blue Note.
    • 1.

Performers:

Title: Mean What You Say
Artist: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra 
Composers: Thad Jones 
Album Title: Presenting Thad Jones/Mel Lewis and 'The Jazz Orchestra' 
Label: United Artists Catalogue No: ULP-1169 
Duration: 05’24
Performers: Thad Jones, Flugelhorn; Mel Lewis, drums; Jerome Richardson, Joe Farrell, Jerry Dogidon, Eddie Daniels, Pepper Adams, saxophones; Richard Williams, Danny Stiles, Bill Berry, Jimmy Nottingham, trumpets; Bob Brookmeyer, Jack Rains, Tom McIntosh, Cliff Heather, trombones; Richard Davis, bass; Hank Jones, piano; Sam Herman, guitar.


Title: Willow Weep for Me
Artist: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra 
Composers: Ronell 
Album Title: All My Yesterdays 
Label: Resonance Catalogue No: HCD2023 
Duration: 06’15 
Performers: Thad Jones, trumpet; Mel Lewis, drums; Jerome Richardson, Joe Farrell, Jerry Dogidon, Eddie Daniels, Pepper Adams, saxophones; Jimmy Owens, Danny Stiles, Bill Berry, Jimmy Nottingham, trumpets; Jack Rains, Garnett Brown, Cliff Heather, Tom McIntosh, trombones; Hank Jones, piano; Sam Herman, guitar; Richard Davis, bass.


Title: Big Dipper
Artist: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra 
Composers: Thad Jones, Thad Jones 
Album Title: All My Yesterdays 
Label: Resonance Catalogue No: HCD2023 
Duration: 05’51
Performers: Thad Jones, trumpet; Mel Lewis, drums; Jerome Richardson, Joe Farrell, Jerry Dogidon, Eddie Daniels, Marv “Doc” Holladay, saxophones; Jimmy Owens, Snooky Young, Bill Berry, Jimmy Nottingham, trumpets; Bob Brookmeyer, Garnett Brown, Cliff Heather, Jack Rains, trombones; Hank Jones, piano; Sam Herman, guitar; Richard Davis, bass.


Title: Balanced Scales = Justice
Artist: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra 
Composers: T. Mcintosh 
Album Title: Thad Jones Mel Lewis and the Jazz Orchestra 
Label: Solid State Catalogue No: SM 17003 
Duration: 04’54
Performers: Thad Jones, Flugelhorn; Mel Lewis, drums; Jerome Richardson, Joe Farrell, Jerry Dogidon, Eddie Daniels, Pepper Adams, saxophones; Richard Williams, Danny Stiles, Bill Berry, Jimmy Nottingham, trumpets; Bob Brookmeyer, Jack Rains, Tom McIntosh, Cliff Heather, trombones; Richard Davis, bass; Hank Jones, piano; Sam Herman, guitar.


Title: Don't Get Sassy
Artist: Thad Jones & Mel Lewis 
Composers: Thad Jones 
Album Title: Live At The Village Vanguard 
Label: Blue Note Catalogue No: 7243 5-60439 2 3 
Duration: 07’16 
Performers: Thad Jones, cornet; Snooky Young, Bill Berry, Jimmy Nottingham, Richard Williams, Marvin Stamm, trumpets; Bob Brookmeyer, Tom McIntosh, Garnett Brown, trombones; Cliff Heather, bass trombone; Jerome Richardson, Jerry Dodgion, Joe Farrell, Eddie Daniels, Pepper Adams, saxophones; Roland Hanna, piano; Sam Herman, guitar; Richard Davis, bass; Mel Lewis, drums


Title: A Child is Born
Artist: Thad Jones & Mel Lewis 
Composers: Thad Jones 
Album Title: Consummation 
Label: Blue Note Catalogue No: 38-226 
Duration: 04’05 
Performers: Thad Jones, trumpet; Mel Lewis, drums; Richard Lewis, bass; Al Porcino, Danny Moore, Snooky Young, Marvin Stamm, trumpets; Howard Johnson, tuba; Jerome Richardson, Jerry Dodgion, Joe Farrell, Eddie Daniels, Billy Harper, saxophones; Roland Hanna, piano


Title: Cherry Juice
Artist: Thad Jones & Mel Lewis 
Composers: Thad Jones 
Album Title: New Life 
Label: A&M Catalogue No: AMLJ707 
Duration: 05’44 
Performers: Al Porcino, Sinclair Acey, Waymon Reed, Cecil Bridge, trumpets; Billy Campbell, Janice Robinson, John Mosca, Earl McIntyre, trombones; Jerry Dodgion, Eddie Xiques, Frank Foster, Greg Herbert, Pepper Adams, saxophones; Mel Lewis, drums; Walter Norris, piano; George Mraz, bass; Thad Jones, flugelhorn.


Title: The Little Pixie
Artist: Thad Jones & Mel Lewis 
Composers: Thad Jones 
Album Title: Live At The Village Vanguard 
Label: Blue Note Catalogue No: 7243 5-60439 2 3 
Duration: 10’32 
Performers: Thad Jones, cornet; Snooky Young, Bill Berry, Jimmy Nottingham, Richard Williams, Marvin Stamm, trumpets; Bob Brookmeyer, Tom McIntosh, Garnett Brown, trombones; Cliff Heather, bass trombone; Jerome Richardson, Jerry Dodgion, Joe Farrell, Eddie Daniels, Pepper Adams, saxophones; Roland Hanna, piano; Sam Herman, guitar; Richard Davis, bass; Mel Lewis, drums

Broadcast

  • Sun 8 May 201600:00
    BBC Radio 3

Podcast

  • Geoffrey Smith's Jazz

    Geoffrey Smith's Jazz - a weekly sequence exploring what makes great jazz great music