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See the performance
at the Kennedy Center.
Click
here!
Vince Lewis is a veteran jazz performer,
composer and recording artist. He has appeared with countless major entertainers
and jazz musicians. Since actively pursuing a solo career he has achieved national
acclaim and airplay, as well as outstanding critical reviews in every major jazz
publication. Vince has been a Heritage Guitar, Inc. Performing Artist since 1991,
and is currently a featured artist on their website and in their printed catalog
along with Kenny Burrell, Roy Clark and Mimi Fox. He has recorded for Noteworthy
Jazz, Redstone Jazz and Jim Martin Productions. His latest releases are a trio
CD titled “The
Vince Lewis Trio..Better Than Ever” and a second duo project with guitarist
Steve Abshire titled “Live At The Mainstay.” Vince's sixth CD
as a leader was for Redstone Jazz titled “Charlotte Swing…The
Gift.” Released in the Spring of 2007 it is still enjoying
national critical acclaim. November of 2007 brought “The Vince Lewis
Quartet...A Different Standard” to the public. This recording is a
collection of traditional hymns performed in a mainstream jazz style. It is gaining
excellent airplay and popularity on both Christian and secular radio stations. “Golden
Christmas” is Vince’s second quartet collection and was released
August of 2008.
Guitar Player magazine describes his playing as "silky-smooth hollow body jazz with fluid bebop lines, flawless technique, and a Wes approved tone that's lively and bright." Jazz Improv magazine calls his Vince Lewis Trio CD "A great jazz guitar record," and has included him in their 2002 & 2005-selected list of "leading and emerging active Jazz artists." His style has been compared to Wes Montgomery and Tal Farlow. Jim Hilmar of Vintage Guitar magazine says, "Vince is an accomplished player with a fine improvisational style." Jim Fisch writes in 20th Century Guitar magazine that he is "a fine guitarist"...offers a deft blend of chordal and linear ideas effortlessly executed"...a hip approach to chord soloing." Ed Benson says in Just Jazz Guitar magazine that Vince has "lots of class and taste." Charles Chapman, noted guitarist and Professor of Guitar at Berklee College of Music in Boston says that he "has those great melodic lines I STRIVE for."
Mike Neely of “All About Jazz” says “Vince
Lewis belongs on
stage among the name jazz guitarists of our day.” Will Shapira writes in
the “Mississippi Rag” magazine that “Lewis can play with the
best of today’s guitarists….His recordings
deserve to be heard around the world.” Bob Gish states in “Jazz Improv” that “Lewis
is nowhere near peaking…a master guitarist that has more than paid his
dues.” Dr. Joe Barth of “Just Jazz Guitar” feels that “Lewis
is a master of the chordal type of playing that Kessel pioneered.”
Vince has co-headlined and performed at jazz festivals with artists such as Ed Shaughnessy, Joe Wilder, Mundell Lowe, Joe Byrd and Derek Smith. He has also been a headliner on festivals and concerts with Dave Brubeck, B.B King, Ellis Marsalis, Lou Rawls and Melissa Manchester. Vince has also appeared in 2003 and 2006 in concert at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. and at the Kennedy Center with Steve Abshire in February of 2007. He headlined a festival in January of 2007 with Mundell Lowe, David Sanborn, David Samuels and Dianne Schuur.
Vince is a contributing writer
and consultant to Just
Jazz Guitar magazine and Vince is honored to announce
his association with Redstone Audio guitar cabinets as an official endorser.
His model of choice is the 8" speaker specifically engineered for
archtop jazz guitars. Click here for
a complete review of this
product.
Vince has been a Heritage Guitar, Inc. Performing Artist since 1991 and is currently a featured artist on their website.
Just Jazz Guitar has two videos of Vince up on their site, playing two arrangements that are to be transcribed and included in upcoming print issues.
Check out Vince's releases on our CDs page.