Mel Lewis on Zildjian history

Mr Farkle

Well-known Member
I've been listening to the old Loren Schoenberg - Mel Lewis radio programs about drummers. Wonderful series and insight, but I can only find some of it on YouTube. I know some of the series was lost, but if any of you know where I might find more I'm super interested. I was listing to the Art Blakey episode today and Mel got into some cymbal history (Mel Lewis version). Thought maybe some of you might find it interesting.

 
2:35:23 a Mel In Clinic Sort a


he definitely gets into cymbals if you watch entirety
this is 1985 shortly after he proclaimed the famous "They're back".

 
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I don’t know about no cymbal maker equaling old K’s. There’s some wonderful stuff getting made now. I had no idea guys were riding on China cymbals, though. Wild
 
2:35:23 a Mel In Clinic Sort a


he definitely gets into cymbals if you watch entirety
this is 1985 shortly after he proclaimed the famous "They're back".

I've watched that one. It's good.
 
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I don’t know about no cymbal maker equaling old K’s. There’s some wonderful stuff getting made now. I had no idea guys were riding on China cymbals, though. Wild
That was recorded in 1989. I think there's a lot of great cymbals these days. The whole dark revival thing helped.

They still are riding China's, at least in a big band setting. I know that Jeff Hamilton does.
 
That was recorded in 1989. I think there's a lot of great cymbals these days. The whole dark revival thing helped.

They still are riding China's, at least in a big band setting. I know that Jeff Hamilton does.

So he wasn’t talking about quartets and trios, then?

And you’re right about when that was recorded. 80s cymbals were all super-heavy, ridiculously so.
 
small-group Mel riding a swish? one of his hippest; Joe Lovano's actually
when I found this long ago I really dug it Mel especially---.

Joe Lovano's - Tones, Shapes & Colors.

Here it is uploaded 4 days ago?+/-



all 7 tracks


you might not have heard Mel like this.
Swish ride at 3:00 above)
he sounds More like Elvin +/-
I think it's Mel's best album
really get to hear him in quartet setting
with Kenny Werner, Joe Lovano and Dennis Irwin
wow


and..you can hear the thick calf sound (above) on the snare and bass drum : 0
 
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small-group Mel riding a swish? one of his hippest; Joe Lovano's actually
when I found this long ago I really dug it Mel especially---.

Joe Lovano's - Tones, Shapes & Colors.

Here it is uploaded 4 days ago?+/-



all 7 tracks


you might not have heard Mel like this.
Swish ride at 3:00 above)
he sounds More like Elvin +/-
I think it's Mel's best album
really get to hear him in quartet setting
with Kenny Werner, Joe Lovano and Dennis Irwin
wow


and..you can hear the thick calf sound (above) on the snare and bass drum : 0

That swish is an interesting sound. Probably I would use light sticks and be careful where I hit it, but I, surprisingly, kind of enjoy it. I thought I’d hate it.
 
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small-group Mel riding a swish? one of his hippest; Joe Lovano's actually
when I found this long ago I really dug it Mel especially---.

Joe Lovano's - Tones, Shapes & Colors.

Here it is uploaded 4 days ago?+/-



all 7 tracks


you might not have heard Mel like this.
Swish ride at 3:00 above)
he sounds More like Elvin +/-
I think it's Mel's best album
really get to hear him in quartet setting
with Kenny Werner, Joe Lovano and Dennis Irwin
wow


and..you can hear the thick calf sound (above) on the snare and bass drum : 0
It took me a few days to find the time to sit down and listen to this album. It’s great! One of my new favorites. Thanks for sharing!
 
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