THE JAZZ OF LEARNING: MEL LEWIS AND THE ROLE OF BIG BAND DRUMMING IN ARTS CURRICULA

ABSTRACT Aim: This study examines what Mel Lewis brought to big band drumming by closely examining his performance of “Greetings and Salutations” in 1976 with the Thad Jones & Mel Lewis Orchestra. By organizing Lewis’s music into types of playing such as comping, unison, and soloing, the study explores methods that make Lewis’s style distinctive. The study also proposed plans to develop activities from the findings, which will help drummers today use Lewis’s methods and gain a better knowledge of drumming in the big-band era. Methodology: This study looks at Lewis’s ways of playing music, the things he did during performances, and how he worked together with other well-known musicians in his genre. Key recordings and live shows are looked at to show what makes his style stand out. Results: The findings show that Lewis was really good at playing with the rhythm, getting the right balance of sound, and making sure the whole group worked well together, which helped raise the level of big band drumming. His way of mixing careful playing with creative ideas made music more lively and helped musicians feel free to explore and try out new things. Practical implications: The insights from Lewis’s way of playing highlight how important it is for drummers and bandleaders to show their feelings in music and to work well together with the rest of the band in jazz performances. Conclusion: This manuscript adds to the current knowledge about jazz drumming by looking closely at Mel Lewis’s unique methods and ways of thinking, helping people better understand how he influenced big band music and gave ideas to many later musicians.