Biography
"Rebirthing the cool in the 21st century, Jesse Lewis is flipping the script on jazz for a whole new generation," writes Australian music critic Jeremy Balius (Fly Global Music). Hailed as “an articulate ace” and "scorching guitarist" (NY Times) and a “poet of the steel string” (Stereophile Magazine), New York City based guitarist Jesse Lewis is a first call collaborator with the finest musicians in the world.
Known as an extremely versatile and eclectic artist, Lewis’ distinctive sound can be heard on a wide variety of projects crossing through the worlds of jazz, world music, pop, and electronica.
Lewis has performed at major music festivals and clubs all over the world and in New York City at the Blue Note, Birdland, Smalls, Joe’s Pub, and 55 Bar, and has performed at legendary venues such as Town Hall and Carnegie Hall.
Born in Boston, Lewis was first drawn to the guitar in high school through the music of rock groups like Nirvana, the Ramones, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin; and later, after hearing artists like Pat Metheny, Jaco Pastorius, and John Scofield, he began playing jazz music.
Wanting to learn more about the tradition and where jazz music originated, Lewis moved to New Orleans and studied with guitar marvel, Steve Mazakowski at the University of New Orleans. During his seven years in "the birthplace of jazz,” Lewis released his debut album Jesse Lewis Union (Lakefront Digital) which garnered critical acclaim. During those years, he also collaborated with many of the biggest names in New Orleans, including Nicolas Payton, Ellis Marsalis, Johnny Vidocovich, Stanton Moore, and Jason Marsalis.
In 2002, Lewis moved to New York City, where he finished his degree at the Manhattan School of Music, and has since performed or recorded with many of the City's finest creative jazz musicians, including Chris Potter, Dave Binney, Mark Turner, Ingrid Jensen, Aaron Parks, Donny McCaslin, Anat Cohen, Chris Speed, Joel Frahm, Johnathan Blake, Fabian Almazan, Godwin Louis, Linda May Han Oh, Dave Douglas, Sara Caswell, Theo Bleckmann, and Matt Wilson. Lewis was a featured soloist on Mike Holober & The Gotham Jazz Orchestra's 2019 GRAMMY nominated recording.
In April of 2008 Lewis released his highly anticipated sophomore recording, Atticus. On this recording Lewis explored new sonic possibilities and blended jazz, rock, and electronic music. In 2016, the critically acclaimed composer, Kyle Saulnier, released an adaptation of Atticus for his 20-piece ensemble, The Awakening Orchestra. The album was released on Biophilia Records and it features Lewis, nested in the center of the ensemble, and showcases shifting orchestral textures alongside imaginative solos and blistering ensemble work.
Lewis' unique and eclectic style has also been utilized by a wide variety of artists outside of the instrumental jazz world, such as Grammy Award winning R&B sensation Chrisette Michele; African music legends Chiwoniso and Sam Mtukudzi; EDM superstar Dominic Lalli of Big Gigantic; and Motown Legends Little Anthony and the Imperials. Lewis has also worked with many legendary jazz vocalists including the New York Voices, Janis Siegel (Manhattan Transfer), Theo Bleckmann, Duchess, and recently he worked on Taking Pictures, the new album by singer/songwriter Jo Lawry, which features Sting.
In 2017, Lewis formed ENDLESS FIELD, a duo with bassist Ike Sturm. They play original songs filled with intricate finger-style lines, improvisation and ambient textures. Drawing on inspiration from nature, the duo seeks to bring music to outdoor spaces. They have recorded three albums to date, including recordings in the Utah dessert and deep in the Alaska wilderness.
Lewis also produces electronic and ambient music under the name, SOUNDS OF ATTICUS.
Jesse Lewis enthusiastically endorses D'addario Strings, Planet Waves Products, and Collings Guitars.
