D'Vonne Lewis

Biography
Articles

D’Vonne Lewis, 32, is a self-taught musician/drummer/poet with a background in gospel, funk, and rhythm and blues. Lewis is the grandson of the late-great ‘Godfather of rock and roll/soul’, the Pacific Northwest’s Hall of Famer, Hammond B-3 organ legend, Dave Lewis. Because of Dave Lewis, Seattle’s 1950’s entertainment scene started on the path to desegregation.

D’Vonne graduated from Seattle’s Roosevelt High School in 2002 under the direction of Scott Brown, where he received numerous high school jazz band awards, including the Jazz at Lincoln Center Outstanding Drum Soloist winner at the Essentially Ellington Jazz Festival for the years of 2000, 2001, and 2002.

While still in high school, D’Vonne was first-call drummer to local and world-renowned artists, including Hadley Caliman; Buddy Catlett; Julian Priester; Floyd Standifer; Jay Thomas; Larry Fuller and Marc Seales, to name a few.

Lewis has also performed with Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra; pianist Marian McPartland; guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli; clarinetist Eddie Daniels; and out-sax titan Charles Gayle.

Francesco Crosara: Circular Motion

by David Adler
January 6, 2024

"I refuse to be labeled a 'straight-ahead' player or a 'fusion' player," says Italian-born, Seattle-based pianist Francesco Crosara. It's a sentiment widely shared by jazz musicians, though they follow many different roads to get to that place. Crosara, for his part, plays both acoustic piano and Yamaha MODX-8 synthesizer on this absorbing, varied program of original music for three different trio lineups, two of them with electric bass. He cites the influence of Chick Corea, a mentor and family friend ...

Profile

20 Seattle Jazz Musicians You Should Know: D'Vonne Lewis

by Paul Rauch
July 6, 2020

The city of Seattle has a jazz history that dates back to the very beginnings of the form. It was home to the first integrated club scene in America on Jackson St in the 1920's and 30's. It saw a young Ray Charles arrive as a teenager to escape the nightmare of Jim Crow in the south. It has produced such historical jazz icons as Quincy Jones and Ernestine Anderson. In many instances it has acted as a temporary repose ...

Album Review

D'Vonne Lewis' Limited Edition: Unlimited

by Paul Rauch
June 3, 2017

The debut album from D'Vonne Lewis' Limited Edition, Unlimited, presents a challenge for this writer, as well as listeners who have engaged its members in live performance, or playing in other ensembles. Live, they are a virtual powerhouse, allowing the stellar cast of musicians to fully immerse themselves both instrumentally, and compositionally. On this studio recording, the strength and energy of the band is evident, yet to some degree subdued, lacking the energy and interaction with a live audience that ...

Interview

D'Vonne Lewis: It's About the Love

by Paul Rauch
December 22, 2016

On the Seattle jazz scene, no musician is more visible than drummer D'Vonne Lewis. Whether he is touring and playing with his band Industrial Revelation, leading his flexible and innovative combo, D'Vonne Lewis Limited Edition, or playing as a sideman on multiple projects around town, Lewis brings to the bandstand a remarkable versatility, and musical identity all his own. He began playing with top shelf players such as Hadley Caliman, and Larry Fuller when still a student at Seattle's storied ...