Jim Lewis has been performing at Jazz Festivals across Canada, in the United States and Europe, since 1987. He performs with the Frank Lozano Group (Frank Lozano - saxophone, Kim Ratcliffe - guitar, John Geggie - bass and Jean Martin - drums), the Paul Read Orchestra, and has performed with the North York Symphony. Jim Lewis is releasing a CD of improvised music with Jean Martin and Andrew Downing on March 2nd 2010. (see here for more details)
Over the years Jim has performed and Improvised with some of Canada’s finest; Reiner Weins, Donny McCaslin, Kieran Overs, Nancy Walker, David Braid, Alex Dean, Kevin Dempsey, Quinsin Nachoff, Lina Allamano, Chase Sanborn,Geoff Young, John Geggie, Kim Ratcliff, Phil Nimmons, Tribal Unit, Brigham Phillips Big Band, Don Thompson, Guido Basso, Pat Labarbara, Hugh Fraser, Remi Bolduc, Kevin Turcotte, Justin Haynes, Jean Martin and many more.
Jim has been featured as Musical Director for many projects, including: “Galaxie Rising Stars of the CBC” 2007, Ottawa Jazz Youth Summit, selection and rehearsal of Canada wide ‘all-star’ Jazz Ensemble for mainstage performance
at the Ottawa Jazz Festival July 1, 2006/7 and the City of Brampton Concert Band, 1997 - 1999, (responsible for repertoire, musical direction, rehearsal and performances). He has been the Musical Director, arranger and soloist for the Brampton Jazz Ensemble "The Jazz Mechanics" since 1989 and arranged a European Tour for the group in 2006, taking them to Italy and Austria, with featured performances at the 'Mid-Europe Festival', Schladming, Austria.
Some of his recording credits include: Silk Stockings, "Donde Esta el Mercado?", Tribal Unit, "The Real Thing", Avalon Motel, "Avalon Motel", Juno nominated Freeflight, "The Big Band", Frank Lozano Group “Colour Fields”, The Jazz Mechanics, "Current Events" and "Oxymoron". He was a featured composer/performer on “Don’t Cry” on Jazziz Magazine’s “Jazziz on Disc,” October 2006.
Some of Jim's commissioned work for large jazz ensemble includes: "Surface Tension", Trinity College School, 2006, "Blues for Armin", The Jazz Mechanics, 2004 and "The Keeper", Humber College Community Music School, 2000.
Lewis received his B.A., Jazz Studies, from Open University, (Burnaby, British Columbia), 2002, and his M.M., Performance with a Concentration in Jazz, from the University of Louisville, KY, 2004. He received his Ontario Teacher's Certificate,Instrumental Music, Intermediate/Senior, from the University of Toronto, (Toronto, Ontario), 1991 and currently teaches at both the University of Toronto and Humber College, in the jazz programs. Jim received the Continuing Education,"Award of Excellence for Outstanding Academic Contribution" Humber College of Applied Arts and Technology, 1999 and the Citizens Awards, Arts Acclaim, City of Brampton, 1989, for his contributions to jazz education and community outreach.
