When Eric Lewis, the virtuoso pianist who made his name playing with Wynton Marsalis, ditched his traditional jazz roots and adopted the stage name ELEW for his self-branded creation of “Rockjazz,” stalwarts were up in arms.
Why would a man with so much talent want to channel his energy into — gasp — pop and rock covers? ELEW’s 2010 debut, ELEW Rockjazz Vol. 1, featured covers of artists like Coldplay, Radiohead and Nirvana. He participated in the 2011 New York auditions for the reality show America’s Got Talent, performing a cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama.” And in August, the 39-year-old provocateur released his followup, ELEW Rockjazz Vol. 2, taking on Michael Jackson, Foo Fighters and the Doors.
ELEW, “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” ELEW Rockjazz Vol. 1
"The idea is that, you know, I'm taking a piece from the pop culture much the same way that Louis Armstrong played 'Hello, Dolly' with Barbra Streisand," Lewis told NPR in a recent interview. "You know, just interfacing in a certain kind of way that allows me to express my ingenuity, versatility, virtuosity without hijacking the sound of the genre and at the same time, preserving the elements of jazz, which are central and beloved."
ELEW is actually just the latest musician to raise a brazen middle finger to the jazz purists with an unabashed love of pop. Here are four tracks from artists beckoned to the other side.
“Pump up the Jam,” Lost in the 80s, the Lost Fingers
A delightfully bizarre one-woman dance party livens up an otherwise old-fashioned jazz joint circa 1940.
“Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” Prog, the Bad Plus
Spare, emotional and gorgeous live performance of this Tears for Fears classic.
“Norwegian Wood,” The New Standard, Herbie Hancock
Piano, smooth sax, stripped-down affair -- not at all the way the Beatles intended, but their original fans probably love this version now.
“50 Ways to Leave Your Lover,” Day is Done, Brad Mehldau
Mehldau's twist on Paul Simon's classic is a total reinterpretation — so much so that this live video could very well be mislabeled. But it's a nifty feat of musicianship nonetheless.
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