Discogs PWA

Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra

The Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra is co-leaded by the trumpeter [a=Thad Jones] and the drummer [a=Mel Lewis] If only the leaders are mentioned at the front cover, please make sure to credit the orchestra at the credit section. The orchestra came into existence as a rehearsal band around 1965.The first public appearance was at the [l=Village Vanguard] jazzclub NYC in 1967 where the legendary Monday Night Concert series started. The band performed ca 12 years in the original incarnation and had world wide tours with several stays at [l=Domicile, Munich], in the '70ies, recorded by Radio Bavaria. In 1978 Thad moved to Copenhagen (Denmark). The band was continued by the remaining leader Mel Lewis, then as [a=The Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra]. After the death of Mel Lewis in 1990 the orchestra was continued under the name [a=The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra]. Trombonist John Mosca is responsible for the band at the moment. The Monday Night sessions at the [l=Village Vanguard] are continued

Members: Steve Coleman, Jon Faddis, Jerry Dodgion, Quentin Jackson, Jimmy Knepper, George Mraz, Buddy Lucas, Clifford Adams, Pepper Adams, Mel Lewis, Harold Danko, Thad Jones, Larry Schneider, Al Porcino, Cecil Bridgewater, Charles Davis (2), Ron Bridgewater, Earl Gardner, Earl McIntyre, Billy Harper, Jim Bossy, Cliff Heather, Ed Xiques, John Mosca, Gregory Herbert, Marvin Holladay, Lee Robertson, Lolly Bienenfeld, Jesper Lundgaard, Stephen Furtado, Lynn Nicholson, Bob Bowman (3), Ashley Fannell, Dick Bienenfeld, Ron Rooley, and Larry Moss (3)