Hammond organist Vel Lewis has teamed with saxophonist Marion Meadows for “Smoovee,” a groove-driven single gaining traction across smooth jazz radio charts internationally and marking the latest chapter in Lewis’s six-decade career spanning jazz, soul, funk, gospel and rhythm and blues.
The recording debuted as the No. 1 Most Added track at smooth jazz radio and has appeared on the Smooth Jazz Network Top 100, Mediabase Smooth Jazz, RadioWave Monitor Groove Jazz 100 and the Top 30 Weekend Radio chart in Madrid, Spain. The single is also available across major streaming platforms.
Built around Lewis’s Hammond organ and Meadows’s soprano and tenor saxophone work, “Smoovee” brings together elements of groove jazz, smooth jazz, soul and funk in a collaboration with roots stretching back decades.
‘Smoovee’ Emerged From a Long-Running Musical Connection
Lewis originally wrote “Smoovee” in his living room during the late 1990s, developing the composition on a home workstation as a melodic groove intended for a soprano saxophone lead.
At the time, Lewis was already familiar with Meadows’s recordings from his RCA Records period. The musicians later met at a Houston jazz club and developed a friendship, eventually giving Lewis an opportunity to present the composition directly to Meadows.
The resulting recording became an international production involving musicians and studios across Brazil and the United States.
Recording Sessions Stretch From Rio de Janeiro to Texas
During an extended stay in Brazil, Lewis recorded the rhythm section in Rio de Janeiro, working on keyboards, bass and drums with musicians Adalberto Miranda and Dede Silva. Percussionist Cassio Duarte subsequently added Brazilian pandeiro from Texas.
Guitarist and mixer Paul Brown, whom Lewis met on the same night Meadows performed at Houston’s House of Blues, handled the final mix. Steve Hall of Future Disc Systems completed the mastering.
The cross-border production reflects Lewis’s broader musical approach, which combines styles developed throughout a career that began during childhood in Philadelphia.
Six-Decade Career Spans Gospel, Soul, Jazz and Television
Born Velbert Lewis Jr. in Philadelphia in 1954, Lewis began performing in 1965 as a first soprano vocalist with the Philadelphia All Boys Choir. He later toured internationally as a featured soloist with the choir’s Small Ensemble, including an appearance at Expo ’67 in Montreal.
Lewis studied voice and piano at Philadelphia’s Settlement Music School before shifting his focus to organ. His training included work with Milton Myers and Dr. E. Woodley Kalehoff.
As a teenager, Lewis performed jazz on television with drummer Gerry Brown and bassist John Lee while also recording Hammond organ for ABC/Peacock Records gospel sessions produced by Ira Tucker Sr. Those sessions included work alongside The Sensational Nightingales, The Gospelaires and The Dixie Hummingbirds.
Philadelphia Soul Years Expanded Lewis’s Career
By 1972, Lewis had entered Philadelphia’s expanding soul music industry as a member of The Futures, signing to Philadelphia International Records. He later performed with The Delfonics during the Major Harris era.
His performance career placed him on stages with acts including Earth, Wind and Fire, Parliament Funkadelic, Al Green, The Stylistics, and Frankie Beverly and Maze.
Lewis also co-wrote and sang lead on “Tell Me Why” with The Life Group. Released through Warner Bros. and Reprise in 1974, the recording later became recognized within the Northern Soul community as one of the genre’s Top 100 classics.
Television Work and Touring Broadened Lewis’s Reach
Beginning in 1995, Lewis composed music for Los Angeles Post Music, including national Chrysler Plymouth television commercials featuring Tina Turner. His compositions also appeared in television productions including Sex and the City, Friends, Mad About You and The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.
In 2003, he joined Dionne Warwick’s touring ensemble, performing internationally for three years. Lewis released his debut solo album, All Wound Up, under the name Shady Grady in 2005.
More recent releases include the internationally charting “PlayTyme” and “Bossaflowz” with guitarist Michael Garvin, along with “Forever More,” featuring vocalist Larry Braggs. In June 2024, Lewis received the Houston Black Music Award for Best Jazz Male Performer from the Black Music Association and Academy of America.
With “Smoovee,” Lewis continues to centre the Hammond organ while drawing on the multiple genres that have shaped his career. Upcoming performances include the Sugar Land Arts Fest in Texas on Nov. 8 and SoHo Restaurant & Music Club in Santa Barbara, California, on Nov. 28.