Up Pops Ramsey Lewis
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Album Summary
"Up Pops Ramsey Lewis" came through the doors of Chess Records in 1968, and baby, it arrived at just the right moment. Ramsey Lewis — the man with the touch, the feel, the soul — was deep in a musical evolution, guiding his piano trio through the rich, churning currents of soul-jazz and funk that were redefining what jazz could be in the late 1960s. This was a Ramsey Lewis who had heard what was happening on the streets, in the clubs, and on the radio, and he was not about to be left standing on the corner. With Chess providing the platform, Lewis crafted a set of recordings that honored his jazz roots while reaching out and grabbing hold of the contemporary sounds that were electrifying Black America — soul, funk, and the irresistible groove of the moment.
Reception
- The album received modest commercial attention as part of Lewis's Chess Records output during the late 1960s, a period when the label was navigating significant changes in the music landscape.
- It did not replicate the extraordinary chart dominance of Lewis's mid-1960s breakthrough recordings, but it maintained his standing as a relevant and respected voice in the soul-jazz world.
Significance
- "Up Pops Ramsey Lewis" stands as a vivid document of the soul-jazz and funk-fusion transformation sweeping through jazz in 1968 — a moment when the music stopped apologizing for wanting to make people move and simply let the groove speak for itself.
- The album showcased Lewis's rare and beautiful gift for meeting contemporary Black popular music on its own terms, reinterpreting soul and pop material through the lens of a jazz piano trio without ever losing the sophistication or the swing.
- By drawing from the deep well of late-1960s soul repertoire, Lewis helped demonstrate that jazz and soul were not separate worlds but branches of the same mighty tree — a truth that would resonate through decades of music that followed.
Samples
- "Soul Man" — the Lewis trio's soulful reworking of the Sam & Dave classic has been drawn upon by hip-hop and soul producers mining the Chess Records soul-jazz catalog for raw, groove-laden source material.
- "Respect" — Lewis's instrumental take on the Aretha Franklin anthem has attracted attention from producers exploring jazz and soul reinterpretations of iconic tracks within the broader soul-jazz sampling tradition.
Tracklist
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A1 Soul Man 113
2:50
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A2 The Look Of Love 111
4:22
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A3 Respect 91
3:00
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A4 Goin' Out Of My Head 99
3:42
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A5 Party Time 137
3:40
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B1 Bear Mash 134
3:00
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B2 I Was Made To Love Her 203
3:15
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B3 Alfie 99
2:45
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B4 Why Am I Treated So Bad 101
2:50
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B5 Jade East 108
3:25
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.
