Pianist, composer, bandleader and radio host Ramsey Lewis died this month at the age of 87. This week on the MCG Jazz Spotlight Show, MCG Jazz’s Marty Ashby shares music and stories of the NEA Jazz Master in a special program.
Ramsey Lewis had a long, popular and influential career, from big jazz hits like “The In Crowd” and “Wade in the Water” in the 1960’s, groundbreaking jazz fusion sounds in the 1970s, like “Sun Goddess” with Earth Wind and Fire, to joyous collaborations with orchestras, Dr. Billy Taylor, Nancy Wilson and MCG Jazz.
Marty Ashby samples a bit of all of it - including part of an interview from the stage of MCG Jazz with our own Tony Mowod.
Remembering Ramsey Lewis in the MCG Jazz Spotlight - Friday and Sunday night at 6, Saturday at 1pm on WZUM.
Ramsey Lewis in Chicago