Role

:

Composer Performer

Birth

:

July 13, 1900 in New Orleans, LA

Death

:

December 31, 1968 in New Orleans, LA

 

George Lewis was an American composer, trombonist, and educator who was born on July 14, 1952, in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up in a musical family, with his father being a jazz guitarist and his mother a classical pianist. Lewis began playing the trombone at the age of 11 and was soon performing in local jazz bands. Lewis attended Yale University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy in 1974. While at Yale, he studied composition with Martin Bresnick and trombone with John Swallow. He then went on to earn a Master of Fine Arts degree in Composition from the California Institute of the Arts in 1976, where he studied with Mel Powell and Morton Subotnick. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Lewis was a member of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), a Chicago-based collective of musicians who were dedicated to exploring new forms of improvisation and composition. During this time, Lewis began to develop his own unique style of composition, which blended elements of jazz, classical music, and experimental music. One of Lewis's most significant works from this period is his 1979 composition "Homage to Charles Parker," which was commissioned by the AACM. The piece is a tribute to the legendary jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker and features a complex, multi-layered score that incorporates elements of jazz improvisation, classical counterpoint, and avant-garde techniques. In the 1980s, Lewis began to gain recognition as a composer and performer, and his works were performed by a variety of ensembles, including the Kronos Quartet, the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players, and the Ensemble InterContemporain. He also began to collaborate with other musicians and artists, including the choreographer Bill T. Jones and the visual artist Stan Douglas. One of Lewis's most significant works from this period is his 1984 composition "Shadowgraph," which was commissioned by the Kronos Quartet. The piece is a complex, multi-movement work that incorporates elements of jazz, classical music, and avant-garde techniques. It features intricate rhythms, complex harmonies, and virtuosic solos, and has been described as a "tour de force of contemporary chamber music." In the 1990s, Lewis continued to explore new forms of composition and performance, and his works became increasingly experimental and avant-garde. He also began to incorporate elements of computer technology into his compositions, using computer algorithms to generate musical material and to control the performance of live musicians. One of Lewis's most significant works from this period is his 1994 composition "Les Exercices Spirituels," which was commissioned by the Ensemble InterContemporain. The piece is a complex, multi-movement work that incorporates elements of jazz, classical music, and computer-generated sound. It features intricate rhythms, complex harmonies, and a wide range of instrumental colors, and has been described as a "masterpiece of contemporary music." In addition to his work as a composer, Lewis was also a highly respected performer and educator. He taught at a number of institutions, including the University of California, San Diego, and Columbia University, and was a frequent guest lecturer and performer at universities and music festivals around the world.

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