Happy Birthday George E. Lewis

July 14, 1952

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Trombonist George E. Lewis was born on July 14, 1952, in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

A groundbreaking trombonist, composer, and scholar whose work has redefined the boundaries of jazz and experimental music. Born in Chicago, Lewis began playing trombone in his youth and became deeply involved with the city’s vibrant avant-garde scene. His career took flight in the 1970s when he joined the influential Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), collaborating with pioneers like Anthony Braxton and Muhal Richard Abrams.

A virtuoso improviser and fearless innovator, Lewis is renowned for blending free jazz with electronic music, including his revolutionary work with interactive computer systems like Voyager, which improvises in real time with human performers. He has performed and recorded extensively, earning critical acclaim for both his solo work and ensemble contributions.

Highlights of his career include his tenure with the Globe Unity Orchestra, his trailblazing electroacoustic compositions, and his influential role as a professor at Columbia University. George E. Lewis stands as a singular force in modern music, expanding the possibilities of the trombone and reshaping how jazz, technology, and improvisation intersect.

Here he is performing “Voyager.”

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