Mark Lewis / David Friesen duo plays at Conway's House of Jazz

Saxophonist and flutist Mark Lewis has enlivened jazz scenes from Seattle and San Francisco to Rotterdam and Paris and has created a vast and intensely stimulating body of music over the past four decades, including 1,800+ compositions. Recent awards include Cadence Magazine Top Ten Critics Poll for his album Naked Animals and #2 on alto sax and #3 on flute in the 39th Annual Jazz Station Awards for his album The New York Session, a collaboration with piano legend George Cables, bassist Essiet Essiet, and drummer Victor Lewis.

David Friesen, recognized as one of the 100 best and 20 most influential bassists of all time, has performed and recorded with artists such as Dexter Gordon, Joe Henderson, and Chick Corea.

His collaboration with Mark Lewis began when the then 22-year-old alto and flute player asked already legendary Friesen to play on his album, which he did. They still perform together, often in the Seattle area, all these years later, two deeply expressive improvisers. Both are prolific composers and typically perform their own compositions in concert. When they get together it’s more likely to be jazz standards, however, and not like others interpret them.

Despite serious visual impairment, Mark Lewis has created music in many ways. He engineered and produced several albums for others including drummer Philly Joe Jones’ final album. He has performed across the U.S. and Europe and recorded more than 20 albums as a leader. His music blends lyrical composition with adventurous improvisation, earning recognition in jazz publications and critics polls.