Bassist Gordon Lewis is happy to join the Kansas State music department as a jazz instructor. Previously, Lewis served on the faculty at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee, where he taught double bass, cello, music appreciation, and directed the jazz combo. He received his Master of Music degree from DePaul University and his Bachelor of Music degree from the New England Conservatory. He also studied at Northwestern University and the University of North Texas. He studied jazz bass with John Lockwood and Cecil McBee and classical bass with Jeff Bradetich, Donald Palma, and Rob Kassinger. At New England Conservatory Lewis played in ensembles directed by George Russell, John McNeal, Jerry Bergonzi, and George Garzone. An active composer and arranger, Lewis studied composition and arranging with Ken Schaphorst and Tom Matta.
Gordon Lewis has been a dynamic participant in the jazz scene in both Boston and Chicago, performing at many of the top clubs in both cities including the Green Mill, Hothouse, and Empty Bottle in Chicago, and Ryles Jazz Club in Boston. He has been a member of Quadrangle with John Goldman, City Talk with Sebastian Noel, and was a founding member of Triage with Dave Rempis and Tim Daisy. For the past seven summers Lewis has taught at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, where he has performed many of his compositions on live public radio broadcasts with the Faculty Jazz Sextet. An active classical performer, Lewis has served as Principal Bass with the Kankakee Valley Symphony Orchestra and as Assistant Principal Bass with the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra.