Lewis, John Aaron (1920-2001), was an American pianist and composer. In 1951, he and three other musicians formed the group later called the Modern Jazz Quartet, the most durable combo in jazz history. He served as its pianist and music director until the group disbanded in 1995 following the death of drummer Connie Kay. Lewis pioneered in the development of third stream music, a blend of jazz and classical music. He composed music for jazz ensembles, orchestras, films, and the stage.
Lewis was born on May 3, 1920, in La Grange, Illinois, and studied music and anthropology at the University of New Mexico. He went to New York in 1945 and worked in Dizzy Gillespie’s big band. From 1958 to 1964, Lewis served as musical director for the Monterey Jazz Festival. Lewis’s best-known compositions include Django, Concorde, Afternoon in Paris, and Two Bass Hit. Lewis died on March 29, 2001.
