The In Crowd – THE RAMSEY LEWIS TRIO****

The In Crowd/Since I Fell For You/Tennessee Waltz/You Been Talkin’ ‘Bout Me Baby/Theme From Spartacus/Felicidade/Come Sunday

Soul-jazz pianist Ramsey Lewis enjoyed his greatest album success with The In Crowd recorded live at the Bohemian Cavern, Washington in May 1965. It won a Grammy for best jazz album with the title track single reaching No. 5 in the US. (US:2)

"Soul-jazz pioneer Ramsey Lewis's 1965 hit The In Crowd made the pianist a crossover smash, connecting with the pop, rock and jazz crowds simultaneously. His simple, bluesy, swinging style is infectious and immediately accessible. One of the key aspects is its party atmosphere - you get a real feel for the interaction between Lewis and the live audience."

"Today, The In Crowd sounds like an extension of the hard-bop era's no-frills, groove-oriented aesthetic, not to mention a foreshadowing of what would emerge decades down the road as acid jazz."

"The In Crowd is The Ramsey Lewis Trio at the peak of their eclectic but popular sound. It has the intimacy and spontaneity of music recorded live, but the precision of music played by those who have talent. A bit bluesy, a bit groovy, swinging, boppy jazz. It's good music for driving, for cooking dinner, as background at a party and, most importantly, for listening to."

"This is a typical mid-sixties, live jazz recording, so the sound is not all that good. What makes this worthwhile is that Lewis and his team were helping to define piano trio jazz at the time, but in a completely unique style and direction of their own, so there is a lot of depth to the music. The mix of tunes is eclectic and the introductions have a bluesy feel without stomping down into a unidirectional 'cellar' of one kind of musical wine."

"Ramsey Lewis is just about the most eclectic and accessible of musicians. The In Crowd probably represents the 'real' Ramsey better than any other recording."

"This is Ramsey Lewis's most famous record, Tennessee Waltz and Felicidade are the two standouts. The Party's Over and Theme From Spartacus are next in line. This is a classic album, and was also a turning point for the trio."