Ramsey Lewis (Pianist)

Grammy-award winning Pianist Ramsey Lewis began classical piano training at the tender age of four. It was in his teen years that a fellow musician from church asked him to join their jazz ensemble. Throughout the 1950's Lewis enjoyed commercial success with jazz trio tunes like "Hang On Sloopy" and "The In Crowd."

Among his many accolades, Ramsey Lewis is a well-known radio personality, having hosted "The Ramsey Lewis Morning Show" from his hometown Chicago, which will begin a national syndication in 2007. He performs internationally mainly with a trio now, and his most recent album, With One Voice (Narada Jazz), rings with the Gospel roots that were Lewis' first musical impressions.

Listen to Samples: http://www.ramseylewis.com/

NEA Jazz Masters 2007

This year's class of Jazz Masters covers the global spectrum of the jazz community. The IAJE Conference invites the NEA Jazz Masters to attend the conference and connect with the educators and students they have so greatly influenced. Here's a brief look as this year's Jazz Masters:

2007 Fellowships Recipients

• Toshiko Akiyoshi - Bandleader
• Curtis Fuller - Solo Instrumentalist (Trombone)
• Ramsey Lewis - Pianist
• Dan Morgenstern - A.B. Spellman NEA Jazz Masters Award for Jazz Advocacy
• Jimmy Scott - Vocalist
• Frank Wess - Solo Instrumentalist (Flute)
• Phil Woods - Composer-Arranger

Photo credits: Ray Barretto - photo by Jean-Jacques Pussiau; Tony Bennett - photo courtesy of Sony BMG Music Entertainment; Bob Brookmeyer- photo by Wolfgang Gonaus; Chick Corea - photo by Pino Ninfa; Buddy DeFranco - photo by Denny Lester; Freddie Hubbard - photo by Jimmy Katz; John Levy - photo by Leroy Hamilton.