17°c Clear
25°c Chance of thundershowers
Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Ramsey Lewis enthralls audience at jazz fest
Ramsey Lewis (JAZZWINNIPEG.COM)
Concert Review
Ramsey Lewis
TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival
Burton Cummings Theatre
June 22
4 stars out of 5
From gospel to John Coltrane to Stevie Wonder to himself, Ramsey Lewis played it all Friday night to an enthusiastic audience at the TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival.
The Chicago native, performing mainly on piano but also on Rhodes electric piano, had his audience from the first notes of the opening tune, Wade in the Water, one of his 1960s crossover hits. And he held their attention through 95 minutes of great music until he bookended his Burton Cummings Theatre show with the widely popular The In Crowd.
There was a lot of gospel in the 77-year-old’s set list to get audience members swaying in their seats, and more than a dash of funk in Wonder’s Living For The City to get hands clapping and bums moving.
He took chestnuts like To Know Her is to Love Her and, with the help of guitarist Henry Johnson, gave it some new life and appeal. Johnson, another Chicagoan, played a key role in Lewis’s band, helping set the pace playing rhythm and taking tasteful, yet powerful solos throughout the night.
The music of John Coltrane made it into the mix as well, in a medley of the saxophonist’s Dear Lord and Lewis’s own composition, Blessings, with delightful piano solos and spare, tasteful accompaniment from band members Johnson, bassist Joshua Ramos, drummer Charles Heath and keyboard player Tim Gant.
Another ballad, Love Song, featured delicate piano work by Lewis augmented with some atmospheric playing by Gant. Brasilica, a Latin-tinged number was set up as a showcase for drummer Heath.
The band included Sun Goddess, the title tune from Lewis’s successful 1970s electric band album, before giving the audience what they had been waiting for all night, The In Crowd.
More The Arts
- Back to Top
- Return to The Arts
Poll
Most Popular The Arts
- Second Ferguson show added Oct. 19
- Dozens of Manitobans nominated for WCMAs
- Peek into private gardens on WSO tour
- Holly's life too short, but Rainbow musical too long, too happy
- Craig Ferguson adds second show
- Whoa, Buddy!
- Drake, Matthew Good hitting Winnipeg stages this fall
- MTS providing tower, charging station for Dauphin Countryfest fans
- Ferguson sells out in under an hour
- Northern exposure
- MTS providing tower, charging station for Dauphin Countryfest fans
- Drake, Matthew Good hitting Winnipeg stages this fall
- Ferguson sells out in under an hour
- Holly's life too short, but Rainbow musical too long, too happy
- Dozens of Manitobans nominated for WCMAs
- Artists announced for WAG rooftop concert series
- Craig Ferguson adds second show
- Whoa, Buddy!
- Girl talk
- Peek into private gardens on WSO tour
- MTS providing tower, charging station for Dauphin Countryfest fans
- Summer in the city
- In Conversation with... Jason Alexander
- Et tu, Pierre? SIR marks its first 20 years with October Crisis-era Julius Caesar
- Drake, Matthew Good hitting Winnipeg stages this fall
- Pretty/ugly
- Ferguson sells out in under an hour
- Holly's life too short, but Rainbow musical too long, too happy
- Gay Archie character to kiss partner in Pop Tate's
- Teen discovers passion for theatre while battling leukemia
- Max Webster keyboardist rockin' his art now
- Et tu, Pierre? SIR marks its first 20 years with October Crisis-era Julius Caesar
- Girl talk
- Whoa, Buddy!
- Artists announced for WAG rooftop concert series
- Actor-singer gets his rave on as groundbreaking guitarist
- Drake, Matthew Good hitting Winnipeg stages this fall
- Craig Ferguson adds second show
- Peek into private gardens on WSO tour
- Et tu, Pierre? SIR marks its first 20 years with October Crisis-era Julius Caesar
- Summer in the city
- It's a bloody evening of theatre, but not always bloody great
- Max Webster keyboardist rockin' his art now
- Winnipeg Arts Council honouring Brownstone for lifetime achievement
- Actor-singer gets his rave on as groundbreaking guitarist
- Lotsa laughs from locals at comedy festival
- Home is where the art is
- In Conversation with... Jason Alexander
- Award a tribute to actor's 50-plus years on the stage
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
Have Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscribers only. why?
Login SubscribeHave Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press Subscribers only. why?
SubscribeThe Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.