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 Ramsey Lewis by Jeff Charney (Host of the "Sunday Jazz Brunch" on KPRS 103.3 FM)
RL: I heard my son's (Frayne) group one night about two years ago and they played it. I thought it was a nice song -- I've always admired Sting's work. Then, when we were putting the album together, I wanted to have something that was more pop-oriented but would still lend itself to jazz. Frayne said "What about 'Fragile'?" He played it for me and I fell in love with it all over again. Later, we let the people at GRP and also a few radio stations hear the demo; everybody liked "Fragile." So we figured that cut should be album's first single. JC: You're involved with a syndicated radio show, "The Legends of Jazz," as well as doing mornings on WNUA in Chicago. How did you become a morning disc jockey? RL: About 10 years ago Evon Daniels, who was the morning person at WNUA, invited me to be a guest DJ with her. The manager of the station said, "You guys get along pretty well; why don't you think about doing a regular show?" So, we started doing Saturday nights; we'd tape it Tuesday or Wednesday and play it back on Saturday. It went well and was on until Evon passed away. I stayed on with the show except we changed its name to "The Legends Of Jazz." It's now syndicated across the United States. The people at WNUA also asked me to do a morning show, 5:30 to 9:00 a.m. I went on the air last September and things are going very well. I'm having a lot of fun doing it. JC: Does it get in the way of your travel and performing schedule? RL: It makes things very tight. After I do the show on Friday morning, many weekends I'm on a plane in the afternoon going somewhere and don't get back until Sunday. I'm back on the air Monday morning. JC: You play contemporary jazz on your morning show, right? RL: That's right. We also work in the music of the masters of jazz like Ella Fitzgerald and Oscar Peterson. We tested that music and it tested so well it's now a regular staple of the show. In fact some of the music of the legends is being played on the rest of the station's format as well. It's a very unique approach we have on the morning show. And it's a lot of fun. JC: It shows that people who listen to contemporary jazz can also learn to explore other forms of jazz. RL: Exactly. JC: Tell me a little bit more about the making of the new CD Dance Of The Soul. RL: I met a young composer here in Chicago named Ryan Cohan. He brought some of his material over and I just fell in love with the way he writes. I picked "Dance Of The Soul" and "Lullaby" and said, "OK, I'm going to record these..." And as he was leaving I said, "and you're such a great composer, I'm looking for a nice jazz tango..." When he came back a few weeks later he brought me "Concion." And I said, "I'm going to record this, too..." And again, as he was about to leave, I said, "You know, I've been looking for a solo piece that has a little Spanish taste, a little classical, but is still very soulful." And we went over to the piano and I showed him a few chords that I liked and a little melody. He said, "Let me take this home..." which he did. When he came back a few weeks later he brought this gorgeous solo piece called "Cante Hondo" ("Deep Song"). The album also reflects my involvement in music in general because I've always loved R&B, pop, European classical and, of course, I'm totally immersed in jazz. There is also the gospel side of me -- I played for our church when I was a teenager -- so I invited our church choir to our studios and we did an out 'n out gospel piece called "Mercy and Grace." So, the album is really a very diverse group of songs. And it's all music that I dearly love. JC: You have a huge discography. If somebody were to come up to you and ask what recording of yours they should buy, which one would you recommend? RL: Creative people usually feel that their most recent work is their best. So I would suggest Dance Of The Soul. There is another one I'm still proud of -- an album I did a couple of years ago with Grover Washington, Jr. called Urban Knights. JC: The Urban Knights have two albums out. What's the status of that band? RL: It's on the shelf just for now while I work on my solo projects. But in the very near future -- maybe within about a year or so -- we're going to do "Urban Knights 3." We'll do the new album and then hit the road. JC: You played for President Clinton recently. And you gave him one of your CDs. Did he like it? RL: (laughs) You know, I haven't talked to him since he was here. (My wife) Jan and I were in the receiving line; I had played for him a couple of years ago and he remembered me. He said he was just back from Africa and one of the CDs he'd taken along had several of my songs on it. Well, that was like a cue. I said, "Mr. President, it just so happens... My latest CD hasn't even been released yet..." -- this was a few weeks ago -- "...but I brought one for you; it's out in the car. I didn't know if I should give it to one of the Secret Service people or to one of your assistants." He said, "Are you kidding? Go get it and bring it to me right now!" So I went out and brought it to him. He said that he was going to enjoy it. I hope he did. JC: What's the toughest part of your job? RL: As a piano player there is nothing tough about it. I like every aspect of making music, including practicing and rehearsing. Playing the piano is shear joy to me, it's therapeutic, satisfying and gratifying. Just working on new ideas and developing new ways, new techniques to get a point across musically is shear delight for me. There is no aspect of playing the piano or music that turns into a negative for me. I love it all. Catch Jeff Charney's "Sunday Jazz Brunch" every week on KPRS (103.3 FM) from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. And feel free to e-mail him at jeffrey@tfs.net. Jeff's web site is at www.kprs.com/jeff.html RETURN TO JUNE/JULY 1998 MAIN INDEX ------------------------------------------------------------------------ © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved. |
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