http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.4467&rws=%2Framsey-lewis%2Fmusic-videos.rssBy the 1960s most jazz performers were elevated -- or demoted, depending on your point of view -- into the rarified air of highbrow culture. Only a few artists managed to get onto the pop charts the way Ramsey Lewis did during the height of Beatlemania. His earthy and funky piano sounded great in a posh nightclub or in a hot discotheque: the hepcats dug how Lewis vamped off of his beefy grooves on the hit version of "The In Crowd," while the kids just knew a hot dance tune when they heard one. While his late '50s and '60s albums are a tasty combination of Vince Guaraldi and Ray Charles, much of Lewis' later recording were closer to Earth, Wind and Fire (his hit album <i>Sun Goddess</i> was recorded with the band and it still sounds great). He went through a bland, faceless fusion period but things are looking up once again and <I>Appassionata</I> (1999) finds him performing mellow but beautiful mainstream jazz. Lewis' funky piano style has been embraced by a young generation of Acid Jazz fans. Many of these youngsters try to ape his groove, but few (if any) can reach his level of funkified artistry. He's recorded a lot of crap, but the choice stuff stands out -- and will kickstart any party outside of the Utah state lines as quickly as the cast of <I>Baywatch</I> suggesting a game of Twister. - Nick DedinaJazz Pianoen720Sat, 26 Dec 2009 00:56:32 -0800 http://static.realone.com/rotw/images/logo_rhapsody_113x22.gif http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.4467&rws=%2Framsey-lewis%2Fmusic-videos.rss By the 1960s most jazz performers were elevated -- or demoted, depending on your point of view -- into the rarified air of highbrow culture. Only a few artists managed to get onto the pop charts the way Ramsey Lewis did during the height of Beatlemania. His earthy and funky piano sounded great in a posh nightclub or in a hot discotheque: the hepcats dug how Lewis vamped off of his beefy grooves on the hit version of "The In Crowd," while the kids just knew a hot dance tune when they heard one. While his late '50s and '60s albums are a tasty combination of Vince Guaraldi and Ray Charles, much of Lewis' later recording were closer to Earth, Wind and Fire (his hit album <i>Sun Goddess</i> was recorded with the band and it still sounds great). He went through a bland, faceless fusion period but things are looking up once again and <I>Appassionata</I> (1999) finds him performing mellow but beautiful mainstream jazz. Lewis' funky piano style has been embraced by a young generation of Acid Jazz fans. Many of these youngsters try to ape his groove, but few (if any) can reach his level of funkified artistry. He's recorded a lot of crap, but the choice stuff stands out -- and will kickstart any party outside of the Utah state lines as quickly as the cast of <I>Baywatch</I> suggesting a game of Twister. - Nick Dedina