” This final couple of years have been amongst the best of my life.  I’m thrilled to have been accepted by the New York Metropolis Jazz group…“, says Nottingham-born bassist Mark Lewandowski. 

It’s now almost six years since he left  the UK on the invitation of Wynton Marsalis, initially to hitch the Juilliard Artist Diploma Ensemble. We final interviewed him on the finish of 2021 (hyperlink beneath), within the context of a brand new album.  Now, with one other album – “A Bouquet (for Woman Day)”, with Heidi Vogel and Liam Noble on Ubuntu Music – set to seem in mid-July, we took the chance to examine the information of his superb latest story…   and to congratulate him!  Interview by Sebastian.  

LondonJazz New: I noticed your identify as a frequent participant within the Mingus Large Band at their Wednesday residency. That’s fairly an honour!!! How did the primary one occur? 

Mark Lewandowski: Sure, though I wouldn’t say I’m fairly a ‘frequent participant’ but!  It’s been such an honor the couple of instances I’ve been capable of play that timeless music with that unbelievable band.  I bear in mind my pleasure in listening to the Mingus Large Band at Ronnie Scott’s after I was dwelling in London. One factor I bear in mind vividly is how the musicians within the band beloved to hang around after their set and sit in throughout the jam session.  I’d fairly often be a part of the jam session band at Ronnies and that’s how I met a variety of their long-term members – Philip Harper, Wayne Escoffery, Boris Kozlov, Dave Kikoski, Frank Lacy.  These guys are an enormous motive I’ve been known as to play with the band now I’m right here in New York.  

I’ve been fortunate to keep up connections with a variety of these musicians and have labored with them in their very own group and different bands since relocating.  Their suggestion methods in at loads and I’m honored to be on the rotating roster now.  Mingus’ music may be very particular to me – it was in some ways my gateway into the music and the bass.  They celebrated Charles’ centennial final yr and had a variety of live shows celebrating his music.  The then-manager of the band known as me up and mentioned ‘it’s essential get all the way down to Dizzy’s Membership proper now.  We’ve got a shock’ (this was earlier than I’d had the chance to play with the band).  Anyhow, I went all the way down to Dizzy’s tremendous jet-lagged and run down, having simply come again from a protracted tour and low and behold they’d each of Mingus’ basses laying there on the bandstand.  After the live performance, Boris and the administration let me spend a while with every of his devices.  It was really a kind of goosebumps moments.  Particularly taking part in his well-known ‘lions head’ Roth bass. That bass performed EVERYWHERE! At Massey Corridor with Chicken, on most of his recordings.  

LJN: And now you’ve been again and performed a number of instances? 

ML: Sure a few instances now.  I hope to get the decision once more and to proceed my relationship with the group.  They’ve a rotating solid of musicians come by way of the band which has been the mannequin for a very long time.  A whole lot of the best names within the New York scene have gone by way of that band and traditionally they’ve at all times given essentially the most promising a begin. They’re beginning a brand new Monday night time residency this Summer time.  After the Jazz Customary closed, it was an enormous disgrace.  I used to like going to these Monday nights to listen to the band there.  I used to go there with Henry Grimes and his spouse.  Henry beloved Mingus’ music! 

LJN: And also you’ve been spending some Mondays…. within the Village Vanguard Orchestra too? 

ML: Oh sure! I imply that has been one more big honor!  It’s unusual too as, earlier than these two calls got here in, I used to be taking part in with huge band solely very not often.  It’s superb how two of the best bands on the planet have now known as me in such fast succession!  After all the legacy of the Village Vanguard goes with out saying.  In a really ‘New York’ method, I bought the decision to sub with the band at about 5pm from their pianist, Adam Birnbaum.  After all I unexpectedly mentioned sure, and a couple of hours later I’m carrying my bass down these well-known purple stairs the place all of my heroes have performed.  It was such a whirlwind that the load of taking part in there handed me by – I used to be completely focussed on taking part in the gig to the very best of my skill.  It appears like I did although as a result of they’ve known as me again to sub a number of instances now! I should have made an impression as that very first night time, I used to be the one musician that wasn’t the official band-member! The historical past in that band is beautiful, lots of the guys having performed with Thad Jones and Mel Lewis over its varied configurations.  I imply that saxophone part alone – Dick Oatts, Billy Drewes, Ralph Lalama, Wealthy Perry and Gary Smulyan!! Now I’ve finished the gig a number of instances, each time David Wong (their common bassist) calls me to make a gig, I get the joy feeling with out the nerves of the primary night time.  It’s a pleasure and once more, I’m so very grateful to be given the chance from time to time to make music in that historic membership with these unbelievable musicians. 

LJN: And since good issues are alleged to occur in threes, I perceive you’ve additionally appeared on a Blue Notice album?

ML: Wow, what can I say about this?  Once more I suppose it speaks to the significance of mentorship and suggestion within the jazz world.  This time I feel it was Javon Jackson who really useful me to the good Joe Chambers, whose document I used to be on.  I feel two of my different heroes and mentors really useful me to Javon in flip – Peter Washington and Gerald Cannon.  To have the advice of your elders, and particularly those that play your instrument is such an exquisite feeling.  Gerald, Peter and Ben Wolfe have finished a variety of superb issues for me and I worth their recommendation and love tremendously.  It’s a very good job they’re to busy!! That’s the explanation I’m getting a variety of these alternatives haha! I not too long ago bought to sub for Peter for 3 nights with the good Peter Bernstein at Birdland.  Once more, this was with about 1 hours discover. New York strikes like that.  For those who blink you’ve missed it, it’s quick.  However again to the Blue Notice recording.  Clearly I’m obsessive about that labels output and its’ cultural significance within the historical past of the music.  Twinning that with the very fact I used to be there recording with master-drummer Joe Chambers, who’s himself THE SOUND of Blue Notice, I used to be really on cloud 9 for this.

In reality I used to be meant to document for Blue Notice with Joe in 2021.  We’d rehearsed, had the dates in our calendars after which the world shut down earlier than we bought to make the document.  I bear in mind being fairly heartbroken to have the chance taken away like that.  It was a tough day truly.  I used to be going to be taking part in the proms with Wynton Marsalis in London that yr and I’m fairly certain I came upon that gig was cancelled on the identical day because the dangerous information about this document date.  Anyhow, I simply put it down as a kind of issues and carried on.  Reduce to 2022 after I get one other name from Joe asking me to be a part of this not too long ago launched document, ‘Dance Kobina’.  After all I jumped on this chance once more and it was an all-round unbelievable expertise.  I can proudly say I’m on a Blue Notice document now.  Actually a milestone in my private improvement and an enormous tick on the bucket-list.  Joe is unbelievable, I grew up listening to him with Joe Henderson, Bobby Hutcherson, Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea and mainly everybody you’ve ever heard of.  Taking part in with such an essential musical voice is a blessing and a humungous studying expertise. 

LJN: And also you now have an everyday instructing job too? 

ML: Sure, I’ve joined the college of the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz on the College of Hartford.  Once more an awesome privilege and I take the job very severely.  Dr McLean spilled his blood, sweat and tears in forming this program which has a lot essential historical past.  I’m tremendously conscious of this and the significance of the place, I by no means take without any consideration.  I’m having fun with my time with my bass college students and discover I’m actually getting loads out of instructing on this degree.  I’m happy with what they’re attaining and I’m flattered to be a small half in serving to them develop of their ardour, dedication and love for this music.  

LJN: Have you ever maintained your hyperlinks with the JALC constructions? 

ML: I’ve – I stay only a stones-throw from Jazz at Lincoln Middle, by Columbus Circle so I at all times really feel near them!  Lately I’ve been on a number of longer excursions as a part of their umbrella.  Not with the large band, however with another initiatives that they’re touring now with a tremendous touring company known as IMG Music.  These often concentrate on the youthful musicians on the scene.  I simply did 5 weeks with a band led by trumpeter Riley Mulhekar known as ’Songs We Love’.  I’ve finished some gigs with a band reinterpreting the music of Thelonious Monk, largely led by vibraphonist Joel Ross.  I’m headed to Saudi Arabia on Monday with Benny Benack after which doing a ten week tour with him and Bria Skonburg within the US subsequent yr.  They’re really an exquisite group and I’m thrilled to be a part of the household.  You already know the love I’ve for Wynton and the significance of him in my journey.  

LJN: And what’s the story of you latterly going to South Africa? 

ML: Again in 2022 I’ve the good honor of profitable 1st place within the UNISA Worldwide Jazz Strings Competitors in Pretoria, South Africa.  This was the one competitors I’ve ever entered and I used to be a bit hesitant to take action within the first place.  I don’t often like to combine music with competitors, though I used to be assured that this explicit competitors (the one certainly one of its variety on the African continent) was a tremendous expertise and alternative.  My good buddy, pianist Addison Frei, received the Piano Competitors a number of years prior.  Nicely all of it labored out nice and I took house the primary prize!  The previous president Thabo Mbeki (who was Vice President beneath Mandela) awarded me the prize and there was lot of ceremony round the entire thing.  It was the beginning of what I hope to be a long-lasting and wealthy relationship with the nation.  I discovered it to be an unbelievable place and of all the numerous locations I’ve been fortunate sufficient to journey by way of music, certainly one of my favorites for certain.  I’ve lengthy admired the music created by way of the distinctive collaborations of South African and British musicians.  Throughout apartheid, many South Africans moved to the U.Ok in exile so they might play in combined bands.  The Brotherhood of Breath and The Blue Notes are two of my favourite bands of this technology.  I worth this particular relationship and hope to proceed in these nice musicians’ footsteps.  I definitely have plans to collaborate with a number of the youthful technology of South African musicians and construct on this collective historical past.  I simply bought again from one other journey to Johannesburg, Pretoria and Durban, the place I used to be yesterday once we spoke.  Once more it was an exciting expertise, visiting some universities and taking part in a number of gigs with some musicians over there.  I used to be chatting with some superb gamers and I’ve huge plans for the longer term when it comes all the way down to me and South Africa.

LJN: Er…  Anything to say?

Nicely I feel the obvious factor is the quantity of instances in a single interview I’ve used the phrase ‘honored’.  I really imply this although.  This final couple of years have been amongst the best of my life.  I’m thrilled to have been accepted by the New York Metropolis Jazz group and I’m having fun with every thing in regards to the journey of being right here.  I nonetheless have a lot reverence for the place, and loads to realize right here.  I really feel like I’ve discovered many lifelong pals and musical partnerships right here.  I’m after all happy with what I’ve achieved and relieved that my strategy of conserving my head down; working exhausting; having respect for the custom and being lively socially and musically have labored thus far.  New York actually is a superb place and regardless of the strains of dwelling right here and a number of the difficulties, I discover it to be inspiring and energizing.  I’m very fortunate to have such great pals and mentors right here who’re serving to me tremendously as I transfer from one alternative to the subsequent and I’m excited to proceed contributing to the musical panorama of this superb metropolis.  If I might return in time and inform the 17 yr previous Mark that I’ve performed on the Village Vanguard and recorded for Blue Notice Information I’d suppose I used to be dreaming.  Truly that’s not the case.  I’ve at all times had the ambition to stay a wealthy life, pushing myself inside my chosen artwork type.  I’m glad I’ve had the chance to realize what I’ve at this stage, however I’m not getting complacent in any respect.  I’m already fascinated about what’s on the horizon and attempting to develop as a musician and man.  I’d wish to symbolize the significance of this music; have a good time its magnificence and empower others to hitch on this journey of studying collectively.  This actually is a ravishing approach to stay life and I wouldn’t change my path considerably in any respect, if I might select once more what to do with my time right here on earth.

LJN: And you’ve got discovered the time to come back to London and document an album? What’s that story? 

ML: After all! I actually do want that I might have been extra transatlantic this previous few years.  After I completed at Juilliard I had each ambition of coming again to the U.Ok much more to work with a few of my vital musical partnerships there.  Sadly, the pandemic had different concepts.  Now that issues are getting just a little higher on that entrance, I purpose to make this occur way more.  Final October I made step one on this by recording a brand new album.  I teamed up with Liam Noble once more, who I contemplate to be an awesome inspiration and an exquisite buddy and collaborator.  We dipped our toes again into the idea of reimagining historic repertoire.  After the success of ‘Waller’, my debut in 2017, we this time selected to discover music related to or written by Billie Vacation.  The album additionally options certainly one of my all time favourite vocalists, the unbelievable Heidi Vogel, who’s singing is a pure pleasure.  She joins us on 2 tracks of the album.  It’s known as ‘A Bouquet (for Woman Day)’ and might be launched in July 2023 on Ubuntu Music.  I’m thrilled to have started this partnership Martin and the label, who I feel present a really protected and supportive house for inventive music.  I’m happy with the music on this recording and what we’ve achieved with such restricted instrumentation.  It really is a thanks to Billie, celebrating the fantastic thing about her life and particularly her vital musical relationships.  Too typically the emphasis is on the tragedy in her brief life.  I feel once more we’ve prevented falling into the risks of pastiche and nostalgia and I discover the outcomes to be recent and present of their aesthetic.  We recorded on the Vortex, once more with Alex Bonney doing his unbelievable work on the recording, mixing and mastering.  I additionally did some instructing after I was again in London.  Some younger bass gamers I hadn’t met earlier than who’ve come onto the scene since I relocated. Rattling they’ll play!  I used to be severely impressed with their dedication, data and care they put into their craft.  It’s vastly encouraging and I’m completely happy and proud that the U.Ok has so many phenomenal bassists who’ll absolutely go from energy to energy. 

LJN: You’ll tell us – I hope – if there may be going to be a London launch?? 

ML: For certain! This can correlate with my subsequent go to to the UK.  I want to talk with Liam and Heidi about their availability – they’re each so in demand!! We’ve got each intention of touring this band and launching the music in London.  After all I’ll share this when we now have some strong dates in our schedule, however know that it’s going to be within the close to future! 

LINKS: Mark Lewandowski web site

Artist web page at Ubuntu Music

Our 2021 interview