Mel Lewis

Jazz Drummer and Bandleader

Mel Lewis was an American jazz drummer, band leader, and educator, renowned for his work in the big band jazz scene. Born Melvin Sokoloff on May 10, 1929, he gained prominence in the 1950s and 1960s playing with the big bands of Stan Kenton and Woody Herman. In 1966, Lewis co-founded the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra with trumpeter and composer Thad Jones. This ensemble, later known as the Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra and then as the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, became one of the most respected and influential big bands since the swing era. It held a long-standing Monday night residency at the Village Vanguard in New York City, which continues to this day under the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra name.