The John Aaron Lewis Legacy Project (JALLP) celebrates the life and legacy of one of Albuquerque’s most renowned residents, African-American pianist, composer and educator, John Aaron Lewis. Its endeavors include raising awareness of his legacy and the importance of jazz in American culture and establishing Albuquerque as the home for John Lewis’ legacy. JALLP work falls under three major areas of focus: performance, education, and the legacy.

 About John Aaron Lewis

Born in La Grange, Illinois, Lewis was raised by his grandmother Edith English in Albuquerque, just blocks from the South Broadway Cultural Center (SBCC) which houses the theatre named in his honor. At an early age, Lewis played piano and violin, later studied classical and jazz. His horizons were broadened by playing in a family band, the church choir and a Boy Scout music group. After graduating from Albuquerque High School, he studied anthropology and music at the University of New Mexico (UNM), eventually obtaining a master’s degree at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City following army service alongside future Modern Jazz Quartet (MJQ) collaborator Kenny Clarke.

Lewis became a pioneer in arranging and composing music that fused the disparate styles of classical and jazz. He recorded with leading artists and ensembles, founded the MJQ whose performances refined and infused jazz with concert hall impeccability, and served as the director and musical consultant of the Monterrey Jazz Festival for 35 years. Throughout his career, Lewis shared his passion for music by teaching at several universities and colleges and, in 1980 received an Honorary Doctorate from UNM. John died March 29, 2001 in New York City at the age 80.

*Note: Each year the Albuquerque Museum Foundation selects a Notable New Mexican to be honored for their achievements, strong ties to New Mexico and contributions to the public good. In 2006, Mr. Lewis received this honor and was recognized on KNME, the local Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) affiliate, http://www.newmexicopbs.org.

JALLP (the Project)

The forerunner of the Project began in 2001 when several local jazz enthusiasts— spearheaded by Jazz Inn Bed & Breakfast owners Sophia Polakowski and Nick Perón— partnered with Albuquerque City Councilor Steve Gallegos to officially name the SBCC auditorium the John Lewis Theatre. As the 2001 New Mexico Jazz Workshop director Ed Ulman said at the time, “Most of Albuquerque does not know John Lewis. We need to change that. John Lewis was a pioneer who believed that jazz is the American equal of classical music.”

Since 2016, the City of Albuquerque’s Cultural Services Department, SBCC, the Outpost Performance Space, the New Mexico Jazz Festival (NMJF), and UNM’s Jazz Studies Program – in conjunction with the Lewis’ New York and New Mexico families – have collaborated to present world-renowned artists in various venues in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. JALLP also conducts youth educational workshops. The annual celebration will continue to be produced each July in conjunction with the NMJF. Current and upcoming work includes expanding educational activities, creating an archive of Lewis’ materials, and dedicating a permanent landmark dedicated to John A. Lewis..

Currently, the Project operates under the non-profit umbrella of Outpost and looks forward to becoming a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization in 2019.