George Lewis - Composer & Trombonist

On today’s episode, we’ll meet George Lewis. A Chicago-born trombonist, technologist, musicologist, and composer. 

 

He’s the Artistic Director of the International Contemporary Ensemble and the Edwin H. Case Professor of American Music at Columbia University. He’s widely recognized as a trailblazer in modern music, particularly for his groundbreaking work in creating computer programs that improvise alongside human musicians in live performance.

 

Over his remarkable career, George has explored the vast possibilities of sound through electronic and computer music, multimedia installations, and both notated and improvised forms. His innovative contributions are documented in more than 150 recordings.

 

George's achievements have earned him numerous accolades, including a MacArthur Fellowship, a Guggenheim Fellowship, fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, and honorary doctorates from Harvard University and The Curtis Institute of Music. At 72, George continues to be a dynamic force in music, with his work being performed and premiered all over the world.

 

Today we’ll get a chance to talk to George Lewis about his upbringing, learn about influential forces like the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians or AACM. We’ll learn how George designed electronics that can improvise with humans live in concert. And, we’ll hear his music.