Kendall Lewis (left) performed at the birthday of Joe Jackson (middle), patriarch of The Jackson 5 and father to Michael Jackson.
"It’s not just about trying to write a great song," Kendall Lewis said. "But, how many of them are broadening their horizon by learning music. Learning the skills, learning the instruments."
Kendall Lewis, the son of award-winning American jazz composer and pianist Ramey Lewis, shares his experience of growing up during the height of jazz music in Chicago, from attending concerts at an early age to hanging out with other legendary jazz luminary peers of his father.
"I was fortunate that my father would allow us at a young age to attend his concerts. There was a place in Chicago called the London House on Michigan Avenue, and he played there every Christmas or holiday. We [were] allowed to go down there. So, at a young age, I was able to be a part of that performance," Lewis told the Suburban Marquee.
"I had a roller desk of jazz songs in my head that surpassed most people of my age."
Today, Kendall Lewis continues the jazz tradition started by his father, who is now entering retirement from the jazz music scene.
"My father is pretty much retiring. Born and raised in Chicago, he has made close to 80 albums," Lewis said.
As the global COVID-19 pandemic slows down, much of the music performing industry, including the jazz scene, wasn’t spared. Kendall is trying to slowly work back to performing although, "because of the pandemic, a lot of (places) are closed.”
Throughout the years, the young Lewis split time between his homes in Chicago and Las Vegas to perform and work as music director in various jazz clubs in both cities.
Growing up with jazz music for Kendall means experiencing a soulful musical movement. He also has the impression that jazz music is comparable to young music fans' adulation of rap music.
"(Jazz and rap) have two different backgrounds," he said. "Jazz has a lot to do with a black art form, a music art form that we developed here. It has a lot to do with studying with instruments, studying music to the point where you can express who you are through an instrument or vocals."
Kendall also shared how jazz's inclination to focus on playing different musical instruments "is not a small conversation because it’s something that spans over a certain amount of years with all kinds of learning. I mean, I'm still learning. I know the things I know, and I know things I need to sharpen my pencil."
That lasting trait the jazz music taught Kendall — musical improvement — allowed him to continue his perfection of composition, playing various instruments, and harnessing stage presence.
"There's a lot of people that can play themselves a jazz song. But the bottom line is, there's only certain notes that make sense in certain respects." Kendall said. “I can hire a guy to play the saxophone, but if he's not going home practicing jazz music because he's more of a smooth jazz player, he's always going to fall short."
In a nutshell, growing up jazz for Kendall Lewis means living with the music and being on a constant lookout for musical improvement and exploration as homage to the legends, such as his father Ramsey, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, John Coltrane, Nat King Cole, among others.
Kendall Lewis has not only grown with jazz, he studied it at attended Berklee College of Music in Boston and now lives it, which means being devoted to the art despite a pandemic that has halted much of the world’s live music scene. He pursues jazz by finding alternative avenues for expressing his love of the musical genre.
"I'm in production to do a radio show starting in April. In that space, I'm also doing live studio performances and interviewing great musicians around the world," he said. "So, just to round out what I'm doing now based on the pandemic and where it has taken musicians, we are all now trying to find things to do that makes sense based on the closing of live entertainment places."
Advocating for the resurgence of interest in jazz, Lewis concentrates on doing his own thing, not only harnessing jazz composing skills and playing musical instruments, but also helping other jazz artists hone their craft. Currently, Kendall is working on creating a syndicated radio show that will showcase new content from emerging jazz musicians and cross-promote their works through various social media platforms.
One regret Lewis has is how much jazz is currently being taken for granted by young people.
"Jazz music being an American art form is something that I think young people are missing out on. Jazz music was more relevant when I was growing up as far as the radio is concerned," he said.
As Ramsey Lewis plays through the twilight of his sterling music career, it is welcome news to learn that the next generation of jazz artists, such as Kendall, is picking up the baton and helping the genre reach a wider audience.
Who knows, the next jazz legend may live next door as a youth growing up in jazz, the same way Kendall's soul was enriched by its empowering influence.
Ramsey Lewis would surely be delighted to see future generations continue growing up in jazz.
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