John Lewis

1172 fans

In the late 1940s the jazz pianist John Lewis was a member of the rhythm section of Dizzy Gillespie's Orchestra, along with vibe player Milt Jackson, bassist Ray Brown and Kenny Clarke on drums. They formed their own band in 1951 and named it the Milt Jackson Quartet, but shortly after Brown left and they replaced him with Percy Heath and the Modern Jazz Quartet was born.

Known as the MJQ, the band has always been a vehicle for Lewis's musical vision and he was at the vanguard of a group of musicians who brought jazz into the respectable mainstream by incorporating classical influences and playing at prestigious venues. Lewis employed a confident, relaxed style on the piano which epitomised the cool jazz of the era. The band toured constantly for over two decades but Lewis still found time to write film scores, composing the music for 'Odds Against Tomorrow', 'No Sun in Venice', and 'A Milanese Story'.

In 1974 the Modern Jazz Quartet split up and Lewis found a new career as a teacher whilst still making the occasional appearance on jazz recordings. When the group reformed in the early 1980s Lewis resumed his role as the band's spiritual leader, a position he maintained until his death in 2001.

Top tracks

01	Love Me Or Leave Me	John Lewis	Grand Encounter: 2° East / 3° West	08:18
	Writer: Gus Kahn / Composers: Walter Donaldson
02	One! of Parker's Moods	John Lewis	Evolution II	03:54
05	Grand Encounter: Skylark	John Lewis	Four Classic Albums Plus (Digitally Remastered)	03:10
03	Afternoon in Paris	John Lewis	Afternoon In Paris	09:25
	Writer: John Lewis
03	December, Remember	John Lewis	Evolution II	06:59
14	What Kind of Love is This	John Lewis	33	03:36
	Composers: John Lewis
09	Love Her All the Time (Unreleased Demo)	John Lewis	33	02:43
	Composers: John Lewis
07	Rock 'n' Roll Guitar	John Lewis	33	02:10
	Composers: Wyalt Wyalt
08	Sugar Sugar	John Lewis	33	03:12
	Composers: Chuck Willis
12	Crying over You	John Lewis	33	03:30
	Composers: John Lewis
13	I Don't Care	John Lewis	33	02:23
	Composers: John Lewis
11	At the Horse Show	John Lewis	Evolution	02:51
	Writer: John Lewis
10	What Is This Thing Called Love?	John Lewis	Evolution II	05:52
05	Cain and Abel	John Lewis	Evolution II	06:52
	Composers: Cole Porter - Harold Arlen - John Lewis - Johnny Mercer
06	Mmm Ba Ba	John Lewis	33	02:27
	Composers: John Lewis
10	Rust Free	John Lewis	33	02:05
	Composers: John Lewis
11	I Hope You're Happy That I'm Glad	John Lewis	33	02:52
	Composers: John Lewis
09	For Ellington	John Lewis	Evolution	05:36
	Writer: John Lewis
01	I Cover the Waterfront	John Lewis	Afternoon In Paris	06:53
	Writer: E. Heyman - J. Green
08	Django	John Lewis	Evolution II	05:24
	Writer: John Lewis
05	I'll Remember April	John Lewis	Evolution	03:11
	Writer: D Raye - G. Depaul - P. Johnston'
08	Cherokee	John Lewis	Evolution	04:05
	Writer: R. Noble
01	The Festivals	John Lewis	Evolution II	04:12
25	Ramblin' Man	John Lewis	33	03:37
	Composers: Hank Williams
07	Willow Weep for Me	John Lewis	Evolution	03:24
	Writer: Ann Ronnell
10	Don't Blame Me	John Lewis	Evolution	03:50
	Writer: D. Fields - J. McHugh
20	It Ain't My Job to Tell You	John Lewis	33	02:04
	Composers: John Lewis
12	Let Me Go (Unreleased)	John Lewis	33	02:33
	Composers: John Lewis
05	You Saved My Heart	John Lewis	33	02:25
	Composers: John Lewis
03	Honey Babe	John Lewis	33	02:44
	Composers: John Lewis
21	Where Did You Sleep Last Night (Unreleased)	John Lewis	33	03:06
	Composers: Leadbelly
20	Life Marches On	John Lewis	33	03:43
	Composers: John Lewis
14	What You Gonna Do	John Lewis	33	04:31
	Composers: John Lewis
03	The Bad and the Beautiful	John Lewis	The John Lewis Piano	04:17
	Writer: D. Raksin
06	Come Rain or Come Shine	John Lewis	Evolution II	05:03
	Writer: Harold Arlen - Johnny Mercer
02	September Song	John Lewis	Evolution	05:25
	Writer: Kurt Weill - Maxwell Anderson
11	Talking About You (Unreleased)	John Lewis	33	03:23
	Composers: John Lewis
15	Black Rat Swing	John Lewis	33	02:52
	Composers: Lawler Lawler
06	I Had Better Times	John Lewis	33	02:27
	Composers: John Lewis
07	Trieste	John Lewis	Evolution II	04:14
06	Django	John Lewis	Evolution	07:31
	Writer: John Lewis
01	Sweet Georgia Brown	John Lewis	Evolution	02:54
	Writer: B. Bernie - M. Pinkard
06	Willow Weep for Me	John Lewis	Afternoon In Paris	09:31
	Writer: A. Ronell
09	Boppin' the Blues	John Lewis	33	03:08
	Composers: Carl Lee Perkins
09	Sammy	John Lewis	Evolution II	04:09
04	All the Things You Are	John Lewis	Afternoon In Paris	05:17
	Writer: J. Kern - O. Hammerstein
04	Two Degrees East, Three Degrees West	John Lewis	Evolution	04:19
	Writer: John Lewis / Composers: John Lewis
23	Where's My Snout (Unreleased)	John Lewis	33	02:53
	Composers: John Lewis
16	Sanity	John Lewis	33	03:17
	Composers: John Lewis
01	Baby Bay	John Lewis	WSJ Sound Records: New York City Soul	02:14
	Composers: John Lewis - William Shephard
05	Bags' Groove	John Lewis	Afternoon In Paris	06:15
	Writer: M. Jackson
03	Afternoon in Paris	John Lewis	Evolution	05:10
	Writer: John Lewis / Composers: John Lewis
03	Two Degrees East, Three Degrees West	John Lewis	The Wonderful World Of Jazz	05:37
	Writer: John Lewis / Composers: John Lewis
02	Dear Old Stockholm	John Lewis	Afternoon In Paris	06:08
	Writer: Traditional
05	I Remember Clifford	John Lewis	The Wonderful World Of Jazz	03:30
	Composers: Benny Golson
13	St James Infirmary (Live in Cardiff)	John Lewis	33	03:35
	Composers: John Lewis
17	Bad Company	John Lewis	33	03:23
	Composers: John Lewis
01	I'm Ready (Unreleased Demo)	John Lewis	33	02:06
	Composers: Eddie Cochran
02	I Should Care	John Lewis	The Wonderful World Of Jazz	04:52
	Composers: Axel Stordahl - Paul Weston - Sammy Cahn
02	Rollin' (Live in Cardiff)	John Lewis	33	02:22
	Composers: John Lewis
24	I Love (Unreleased)	John Lewis	33	03:23
	Composers: Geraint Watkins
06	Almost Like Being In Love	John Lewis	Grand Encounter: 2° East / 3° West	09:26
	Composers: Alan Jay Lerner - Frederick Loewe
07	Delaunay's Dilemma	John Lewis	Atlantic Jazz: Piano	04:28
	Writer: John Lewis
02	Smoke Gets in Your Eyes	John Lewis	Improvised Meditations & Excursions	04:53
	Writer: J. Kern - O. Harbach
01	Now's the Time	John Lewis	Improvised Meditations & Excursions	03:48
	Writer: C. Parker
05	Yesterdays	John Lewis	Improvised Meditations & Excursions	06:20
	Writer: J. Kern - O. Harbach

Playlists

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Discography

Albums

℗ 2001Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.: 16-01-2001

Evolution II

01	The Festivals	John Lewis	Evolution II	04:12
02	One! of Parker's Moods	John Lewis	Evolution II	03:54
03	December, Remember	John Lewis	Evolution II	06:59
04	That! Afternoon in Paris	John Lewis	Evolution II	06:04
05	Cain and Abel	John Lewis	Evolution II	06:52
	Composers: Cole Porter - Harold Arlen - John Lewis - Johnny Mercer
06	Come Rain or Come Shine	John Lewis	Evolution II	05:03
	Writer: Harold Arlen - Johnny Mercer
07	Trieste	John Lewis	Evolution II	04:14

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℗ 1999 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.: 03-09-1999

Evolution

01	Sweet Georgia Brown	John Lewis	Evolution	02:54
	Writer: B. Bernie - M. Pinkard
02	September Song	John Lewis	Evolution	05:25
	Writer: Kurt Weill - Maxwell Anderson
03	Afternoon in Paris	John Lewis	Evolution	05:10
	Writer: John Lewis / Composers: John Lewis
04	Two Degrees East, Three Degrees West	John Lewis	Evolution	04:19
	Writer: John Lewis / Composers: John Lewis
05	I'll Remember April	John Lewis	Evolution	03:11
	Writer: D Raye - G. Depaul - P. Johnston'
06	Django	John Lewis	Evolution	07:31
	Writer: John Lewis
07	Willow Weep for Me	John Lewis	Evolution	03:24
	Writer: Ann Ronnell

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℗ 1962 Atlantic Recording Corp. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company.: 01-01-1962

A Milanese Story

01	In a Crowd	John Lewis	A Milanese Story	03:23
	Writer: J. Lewis
02	Valeria	John Lewis	A Milanese Story	02:39
	Writer: J. Lewis
03	Winter Tale (Long Version)	John Lewis	A Milanese Story	06:36
	Writer: J. Lewis
04	Monday in Milan (aka Blue Milanese)	John Lewis	A Milanese Story	06:23
	Writer: J. Lewis
05	Finale	John Lewis	A Milanese Story	06:06
	Writer: J. Lewis
06	Danielle in the Lion's Den	John Lewis	A Milanese Story	02:58
	Writer: J. Lewis

℗ 1962 Atlantic Recording Corp. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company.: 01-01-1962

Animal Dance

01	Animal Dance	John Lewis & Albert Mangelsdorff	Animal Dance	02:39
	Writer: J. Lewis
02	Autumn Leaves	John Lewis & Albert Mangelsdorff	Animal Dance	06:41
	Writer: J. Kosma - J. Prevert - Johnny Mercer
03	Set 'Em Up	John Lewis & Albert Mangelsdorff	Animal Dance	03:18
	Writer: Albert Mangelsdorff
04	Monday in Milan	John Lewis & Albert Mangelsdorff	Animal Dance	05:25
	Writer: J. Lewis
05	The Sheriff	John Lewis & Albert Mangelsdorff	Animal Dance	03:52
	Writer: J. Lewis
06	Why Are You Blue?	John Lewis & Albert Mangelsdorff	Animal Dance	06:30
	Writer: G. Mcfarland
07	Ornaments	The Zagreb Jazz Quartet	Animal Dance	06:34
	Writer: D. Kajfes

℗ 1962 Atlantic Recording Corp. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company.: 01-01-1962

Essence

01	Hopeful Encounter	John Lewis	Essence	04:40
	Writer: Gary McFarland
02	Tillamook Two	John Lewis	Essence	07:11
	Writer: Gary McFarland
03	Night Float	John Lewis	Essence	04:18
	Writer: Gary McFarland
04	Notions	John Lewis	Essence	04:00
	Writer: Gary McFarland
05	Another Encounter	John Lewis	Essence	05:10
	Writer: Gary McFarland
06	Wish Me Well	John Lewis	Essence	07:44
	Writer: Gary McFarland

℗ 2005 Atlantic Recording Corp. Manufactured & Marketed by Warner Strategic Marketing.: 01-01-1961

The Wonderful World Of Jazz

01	Body and Soul	John Lewis	The Wonderful World Of Jazz	15:29
	Composers: Edward Heyman - Frank Eyton - Johnny Green - Robert Sour
02	I Should Care	John Lewis	The Wonderful World Of Jazz	04:52
	Composers: Axel Stordahl - Paul Weston - Sammy Cahn
03	Two Degrees East, Three Degrees West	John Lewis	The Wonderful World Of Jazz	05:37
	Writer: John Lewis / Composers: John Lewis
04	Afternoon in Paris	John Lewis	The Wonderful World Of Jazz	09:58
	Writer: John Lewis / Composers: John Lewis
05	I Remember Clifford	John Lewis	The Wonderful World Of Jazz	03:30
	Composers: Benny Golson
06	The Stranger	John Lewis	The Wonderful World Of Jazz	05:42
	Composers: Arif Mardin
07	If You Could See Me Now	John Lewis	The Wonderful World Of Jazz	10:22
	Composers: Tadd Dameron

℗ 1961 Atlantic Recording Corp. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company.: 01-01-1961

Original Sin

01	Creation of the World & Creation of Adam	John Lewis	Original Sin	03:54
	Writer: J. Lewis
02	Introduction	John Lewis	Original Sin	00:48
	Writer: J. Lewis
03	Zebra, Lion, Camel	John Lewis	Original Sin	01:28
	Writer: J. Lewis
04	Walrus, Ape	John Lewis	Original Sin	00:52
	Writer: J. Lewis
05	Lamb, Leopard	John Lewis	Original Sin	01:47
	Writer: J. Lewis
06	Rabbit, Skunk	John Lewis	Original Sin	00:44
	Writer: J. Lewis
07	Mountain Sheep, Deer	John Lewis	Original Sin	01:38
	Writer: J. Lewis

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℗ 1960 Atlantic Recording Corp. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company.: 01-01-1960

John Lewis Presents Jazz Abstractions

01	Abstraction	John Lewis	John Lewis Presents Jazz Abstractions	04:08
	Writer: Gunter Schuller
02	Piece for Guitar and Strings	John Lewis	John Lewis Presents Jazz Abstractions	06:23
	Writer: Jim Hall
03	Variants on a Theme of John Lewis (Django): Variant I	John Lewis	John Lewis Presents Jazz Abstractions	05:28
	Writer: Gunther Schuller - John Lewis
04	Variants on a Theme of John Lewis (Django): Variant II	John Lewis	John Lewis Presents Jazz Abstractions	01:39
	Writer: Gunther Schuller - John Lewis
05	Variants on a Theme of John Lewis (Django): Variant III	John Lewis	John Lewis Presents Jazz Abstractions	03:07
	Writer: Gunther Schuller
06	Variants on a Theme of Thelonious Monk (Criss Cross): Variant I	John Lewis	John Lewis Presents Jazz Abstractions	06:22
	Writer: Gunter Schuller
07	Variants on a Theme of Thelonious Monk (Criss Cross): Variant II	John Lewis	John Lewis Presents Jazz Abstractions	01:49
	Writer: Gunter Schuller

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℗ 1959 Atlantic Recording Corp. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company.: 01-01-1959

Improvised Meditations & Excursions

01	Now's the Time	John Lewis	Improvised Meditations & Excursions	03:48
	Writer: C. Parker
02	Smoke Gets in Your Eyes	John Lewis	Improvised Meditations & Excursions	04:53
	Writer: J. Kern - O. Harbach
03	Delaunay's Dilemma	John Lewis	Improvised Meditations & Excursions	04:28
	Writer: John Lewis
04	Love Me	John Lewis	Improvised Meditations & Excursions	05:04
	Writer: J. Lewis
05	Yesterdays	John Lewis	Improvised Meditations & Excursions	06:20
	Writer: J. Kern - O. Harbach
06	How Long Has This Been Going On?	John Lewis	Improvised Meditations & Excursions	05:50
	Writer: George Gershwin - I. Gershwin
07	September Song	John Lewis	Improvised Meditations & Excursions	06:12
	Writer: Kurt Weill - Maxwell Anderson

℗ 1957 Capitol Records, LLC: 05-02-1957

Grand Encounter: 2° East / 3° West

01	Love Me Or Leave Me	John Lewis	Grand Encounter: 2° East / 3° West	08:18
	Writer: Gus Kahn / Composers: Walter Donaldson
02	I Can't Get Started	John Lewis	Grand Encounter: 2° East / 3° West	03:33
	Writer: Vernon Duke - Ira Gershwin / Composers: Vernon Duke - Ira Gershwin
03	Easy Living	John Lewis	Grand Encounter: 2° East / 3° West	04:14
	Writer: Leo Robin / Composers: Ralph Rainger
04	Two Degrees East, Three Degrees West	John Lewis	Grand Encounter: 2° East / 3° West	06:07
	Composers: John Lewis
05	Skylark	John Lewis	Grand Encounter: 2° East / 3° West	03:06
	Composers: Johnny Mercer - Hoagy Carmichael
06	Almost Like Being In Love	John Lewis	Grand Encounter: 2° East / 3° West	09:26
	Composers: Alan Jay Lerner - Frederick Loewe

℗ 1956 Atlantic Recording Corp. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company.: 01-01-1956

The John Lewis Piano

01	Harlequin	John Lewis	The John Lewis Piano	05:13
	Writer: J. Lewis
02	Little Girl Blue	John Lewis	The John Lewis Piano	04:29
	Writer: Lorenz Hart - Richard Rogers
03	The Bad and the Beautiful	John Lewis	The John Lewis Piano	04:17
	Writer: D. Raksin
04	D & E	John Lewis	The John Lewis Piano	04:18
	Writer: J. Lewis
05	It Never Entered My Mind	John Lewis	The John Lewis Piano	03:38
	Writer: Lorenz Hart - Richard Rodgers
06	Warmeland	John Lewis	The John Lewis Piano	04:43
	Writer: Traditional
07	Two Lyric Pieces	John Lewis	The John Lewis Piano	06:13
	Writer: J. Lewis

Featured in

This Compilation ℗ 2014 Blue Note Records: 01-01-2014

Brownie Speaks: The Complete Blue Note Recordings

01	Get Happy	Clifford Brown	Brownie Speaks: The Complete Blue Note Recordings	04:51
	Writer: Ted Koehler - Harold Arlen / Composers: Ted Koehler - Harold Arlen
02	Lover Man	Clifford Brown	Brownie Speaks: The Complete Blue Note Recordings	03:51
	Composers: Jimmy Sherman - Roger Ramirez - Jimmie Davis
03	Capri	Clifford Brown	Brownie Speaks: The Complete Blue Note Recordings	03:38
	Composers: Gigi Gryce
04	Sketch 1	Jay Jay Johnson	Brownie Speaks: The Complete Blue Note Recordings	04:23
	Composers: John Lewis
05	Turnpike	Clifford Brown	Brownie Speaks: The Complete Blue Note Recordings	04:14
	Composers: J.J. Johnson
06	It Could Happen To You	Clifford Brown	Brownie Speaks: The Complete Blue Note Recordings	04:44
	Writer: Johnny Burke / Composers: Jimmy van Heusen
07	Capri (Alt)	Clifford Brown	Brownie Speaks: The Complete Blue Note Recordings	03:47
	Composers: Gigi Gryce

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2024 Arkadia Records / Arkadia Entertainment Corp.: 04-07-2025

Jazz Secrets - Jazz Through the Eras (How to Listen to Jazz)

01	King Porter Stomp (New Orleans - Jazz Secrets)	Arkadia Jazz All-Stars	Jazz Secrets - Jazz Through the Eras (How to Listen to Jazz)	02:59
	Composers: Jelly Roll Morton
02	Another Blue (Jazz Blues - Jazz Secrets)	Arkadia Jazz All-Stars	Jazz Secrets - Jazz Through the Eras (How to Listen to Jazz)	05:06
	Composers: Talib Kibwe
03	Mood Indigo (Great American Songbook - Jazz Secrets)	Arkadia Jazz All-Stars	Jazz Secrets - Jazz Through the Eras (How to Listen to Jazz)	06:10
	Composers: Duke Ellington - Billy Strayhorn - Irving Mills
04	You Go to My Head (Vocal Scat - Jazz Secrets)	Arkadia Jazz All-Stars	Jazz Secrets - Jazz Through the Eras (How to Listen to Jazz)	04:56
	Writer: Haven Gillespie - John Frederick Coots / Composers: Haven Gillespie - John Frederick Coots
05	Mack the Knife (Swing - Jazz Secrets)	Arkadia Jazz All-Stars	Jazz Secrets - Jazz Through the Eras (How to Listen to Jazz)	05:32
	Composers: Kurt Weill
06	Donna Lee (Bebop - Jazz Secrets)	Arkadia Jazz All-Stars	Jazz Secrets - Jazz Through the Eras (How to Listen to Jazz)	03:23
	Composers: Charlie Parker
07	The Golden Striker (Cool Jazz - Jazz Secrets)	Arkadia Jazz All-Stars	Jazz Secrets - Jazz Through the Eras (How to Listen to Jazz)	04:17
	Composers: John Lewis

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℗ 2016 Concord Music Group, Inc.: 03-06-2016

The Complete Prestige 10-Inch LP Collection

01	Stop	Fats Navarro	The Complete Prestige 10-Inch LP Collection	04:01
	Writer: Don Lanphere / Composers: Don Lanphere
02	Go	Fats Navarro	The Complete Prestige 10-Inch LP Collection	03:26
	Writer: Don Lanphere / Composers: Don Lanphere
03	Wailing Wall	Fats Navarro	The Complete Prestige 10-Inch LP Collection	03:57
	Writer: Fats Navarro / Composers: Fats Navarro
04	Thinking Of You	Dizzy Gillespie	The Complete Prestige 10-Inch LP Collection	02:44
	Writer: Bert Kalmar - Harry Ruby / Composers: Bert Kalmar - Harry Ruby
05	Morpheus	Miles Davis	The Complete Prestige 10-Inch LP Collection	02:21
	Writer: John Lewis / Composers: John Lewis
06	Whispering	Miles Davis	The Complete Prestige 10-Inch LP Collection	03:03
	Writer: John Schoenberger - Richard Coburn / Composers: John Schoenberger - Richard Coburn
07	Down	Miles Davis	The Complete Prestige 10-Inch LP Collection	02:51
	Writer: Miles Davis / Composers: Miles Davis

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This Compilation ℗ 1998 Blue Note Records: 01-01-1998

Rhapsody In Blue (Blue Note Plays Music Of George And Ira Gershwin)

01	Rhapsody In Blue	Billy May & His Orchestra	Rhapsody In Blue (Blue Note Plays Music Of George And Ira Gershwin)	03:16
	Writer: George Gershwin / Composers: George Gershwin
02	Gershwin Prelude No. 2	Bud Shank	Rhapsody In Blue (Blue Note Plays Music Of George And Ira Gershwin)	03:56
	Composers: Ira Gershwin
03	Strike Up The Band	Bob Cooper	Rhapsody In Blue (Blue Note Plays Music Of George And Ira Gershwin)	02:50
	Writer: George Gershwin - Ira Gershwin / Composers: George Gershwin - Ira Gershwin
04	But Not For Me (Vocal Version)	Chet Baker	Rhapsody In Blue (Blue Note Plays Music Of George And Ira Gershwin)	03:03
	Writer: Ira Gershwin - George Gershwin / Composers: Ira Gershwin - George Gershwin
05	Embraceable You	Frank Rosolino Sextet	Rhapsody In Blue (Blue Note Plays Music Of George And Ira Gershwin)	03:02
	Writer: George Gershwin - Ira Gershwin / Composers: George Gershwin - Ira Gershwin
06	They Can't Take That Away From Me	Julie London	Rhapsody In Blue (Blue Note Plays Music Of George And Ira Gershwin)	03:06
	Writer: Ira Gershwin / Composers: George Gershwin
07	Nice Work If You Can Get It	Thelonious Monk	Rhapsody In Blue (Blue Note Plays Music Of George And Ira Gershwin)	03:00
	Writer: George Gershwin - Ira Gershwin / Composers: George Gershwin - Ira Gershwin

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