Vince
Lewis
This veteran guitarist makes the list of "leading and emerging jazz artists" published by Jazz Improv magazine. Guitar Player magazine calls his playing "silky-smooth hollow body jazz with fluid bebop lines, flawless technique, and a Wes-approved tone that's lively and bright."
He plays a Vince Lewis signature model from Heritage Guitars, a
Kalamazoo, Michigan maker specializing in handmade instruments. He's a
featured artist for Heritage with such greats as Kenny Burrell, Roy
Clark, and Adrian Belew. Selected photos courtesy of
Melanie Kipp. Click images to enlarge.
Early days
Vince hails from Charleston, West Virginia. Lessons with master guitar teacher Bobby Whitlock led to teenage gigs at Charleston's jazz clubs, followed by a music degree from the University of Charleston and graduate studies at Marshall.
When his teacher moved to Miami, it wasn't long before Vince also headed south to Florida. He settled in West Palm Beach, where he found success playing gigs in ritzy Palm Beach clubs, but also in handling business for music bookers.
He landed a gig teaching guitar at Palm Beach Community College, where he became good friends with jazz band director Sy Pryweller.
Meanwhile Ted Knight was establishing his own music business in nearby Delray Beach. Both Ted and his father Vic Knight had heard great things about Vince from Sy. Even though Vic seldom used guitar with his bands, he made a point of meeting and working with the new guy in town.
One night Vic's big band played a promotional date at a local bank. Ted happened to be on keyboard and Vince was on guitar. They met during a break and quickly became friends.
Over the next few years they played lots of dates together. Often Ted played left-hand bass, sometimes playing right-hand leads with chords from Vince, sometimes comping while his partner took the lead. With just a drummer, they made a most musical trio.
Adding
horns
brought plenty of gigs at weddings and private clubs. From left to
right, Vince, Randy Sonntag, Ted, Larry Ruda, and Erwin Michael.
At
left, Vince plays with Ted's big band for a 1980s real estate promotion
in Boca Raton.
But Vince was destined for much bigger things. In 1991, he released an album of his own compositions called Makin' a Move, and immediately started planning future albums.
Back home again
Missing his many jazz friends from home,
in 1995 he decided to leave Florida and make a new home in Virginia. He played gigs around the state
but also back home in Charleston. At right, his trio at Soho's. He
became guitar instructor at Liberty University. He released album after
album to critical raves.
With guitarist Mundell Lowe and bassist Joe Byrd, he became part of the Great Guitars, a revival of the 1960s group that included Charlie Byrd, Barney Kessel and Herb Ellis.
His band opened for B.B. King and for Dave Brubeck. He played at the Kennedy Center and the Smithsonian.
At
left, he's pictured with Mundell Lowe and bassist Tom Hildreth for
All That Jazz Weekend.
The annual event at Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa in Asheville, North Carolina is one of the top jazz festivals in the Southeast. Photo courtesy of www.berksonphotography.com.
The plan
Meanwhile Ted and his wife Marie missed their old friend. There were emails and occasional phone chats, but the last time they'd gotten together was in 1999, when the Knights managed to have dinner with the Lewises while heading back to Florida from a summer vacation.
In 2007, it looked as if Vince could come south to do a three-night convention gig with Ted's sextet, but university commitments kept it from happening.
Then
Ted figured out a way to get together with his old friend. They would
meet at a recording studio somewhere between Florida and Virginia, and
have some fun.
It
all came together on August 23, 2008 at
Woody's Recording Studio
in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
Read Session in Rock Hill for the rest of the story, complete with online samples of the recordings they made that day. At right, Woody's engineer Boyd Hood.
Click titles below to hear samples from Vince's own albums.
- Too Marvelous for Words
- Shiny Stockings
- Back Home Again in Indiana
- Taking a Chance on Love
- Abide with Me
- Glory, Glory Hallelujah
- God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
1,2 From Better Than Ever
3,4 From Live at the Mainstay (Steve
Abshire and Vince Lewis, duo guitars)
5,6 From A Different Standard (Phil Thompson, flute and
clarinet)
7 From Golden Christmas (Phil Thompson, sax)
A Different Standard and Golden Christmas were also recorded at Woody's. All of Vince's CDs are available for sale at www.vincelewis.com.