Them Changes
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Album Summary
"Them Changes" came to life in 1970 on the storied Chess Records label, a house that knew a thing or two about soul and groove, and Ramsey Lewis stepped into that legacy with both hands on the keys and his heart wide open. This record found the Chicago-born pianist pushing past his earlier trio-based soul-jazz identity and leaning hard into the funky, electric currents that were reshaping jazz from the inside out. With electric keyboards front and center, a rhythm section locked into something deep and contemporary, and a production sensibility that was very much of its moment, Lewis delivered an album that announced — quietly but unmistakably — that he was not standing still. This was Ramsey Lewis in motion, riding the early-seventies wave of funk-jazz fusion with the kind of elegance only a pianist of his caliber could bring to the party.
Reception
- "Them Changes" found a warm and ready audience in the soul-jazz and funk-jazz markets of 1970, connecting with both longtime Lewis faithful and a younger generation of listeners hungry for jazz with a serious groove underneath it.
- The album reinforced Lewis's commercial staying power during a pivotal stretch of his Chess Records tenure, when he was actively reshaping his sound and proving he could move between worlds without losing his footing.
Significance
- "Them Changes" stands as a genuine document of the early-seventies jazz transformation, capturing the precise moment when a master of soul-jazz reached toward funk and R&B influences and found something vital and new waiting there for him.
- The album's embrace of electric keyboards and deeply rhythmic funk textures places it squarely within the broader jazz-funk fusion movement, with Lewis serving as one of its more graceful and seasoned navigators.
- Rooted in the Chess Records tradition of music that spoke to real people in real time, "Them Changes" reflects Lewis's gift for making sophisticated jazz feel accessible, soulful, and alive — a balance that defined his artistry throughout this era.
Samples
Tracklist
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A1 (Them) Changes —
6:40
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A2 Drown In My Own Tears —
7:25
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A3 Oh Happy Day —
7:10
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B1 Do Whatever Sets You Free —
7:53
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B2 Something 120
5:15
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B3 See The End From The Beginning, Look Afar —
6:15
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B4 The Unsilent Minority —
3:45
Artist Details
Ramsey Lewis is an acclaimed American jazz pianist and composer born on May 27, 1935, in Chicago, Illinois, where he would go on to form the Ramsey Lewis Trio in 1956 alongside bassist Eldee Young and drummer Red Holt. His sound blends traditional jazz with gospel, blues, pop, and soul influences, creating an accessible and soulful style that helped bridge the gap between jazz purists and mainstream audiences. Lewis achieved enormous commercial success with his 1965 live recording of The In Crowd, which reached number two on the pop charts and earned him a Grammy Award for Best Rhythm and Blues Recording, a remarkable crossover achievement for a jazz artist. Throughout his career spanning over six decades, he recorded more than 80 albums and hosted the long-running public television series Legends of Jazz, further cementing his role as both a performer and ambassador of the art form. Lewis remains a pivotal figure in American music history, recognized for making jazz approachable to a broader audience without sacrificing artistic integrity, and his influence continues to be felt across jazz, soul, and contemporary music.
