Seattle Drummer D'vonne Lewis is Always Learning
Updated: 1 day ago
The Woodshed podcast ep. 1
In Episode 1 of The Woodshed Podcast from Seattle Jazz Academy, host Jason Parker talks with Seattle's own ubiquitous drummer, composer, bandleader and educator D’Vonne Lewis. Lewis talks about how he got started on the drums, his mentors, the role of a drummer and stories from his illustrious and varied career thus far.
Interview highlights
On getting started on the drums
Lewis: I was always interested in drums, even when I was three years old, beating on pots and pans. But when I first went to Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, I learned that you could do this as a career because I saw Elvin Jones there. He was the festival drummer and he did a little clinic in the day and was like, "This is my job, and I get to travel." And I was like, oh, I didn't realize that. I was like, okay, now I want to do that. I'd say that was one of the main reasons. It's kind of weird because nobody in my family really told me that my dad played drums when he was younger. Maybe probably since he was seven, eight years old to early, middle teenage years in the church. And we had a relationship, but at the time, he got into some trouble. He was in prison for a good chunk of my life. In fourth grade, we wrote back and forth and he sends me this picture of him on the drums in the music room at Walla Walla State Prison. I'm like, "Grandma, my dad plays drums?" She's like, "Oh, yeah, he played all through church." So I was like, wow, okay. That's weird that since I was three, I've been kind of beating around and joined the bands in elementary and middle school.
On lessons learned from his time at Roosevelt High School
Lewis: It was kind of like a almost a mini college. [Scott] Brown, pretty much everything I do still was from his lessons. He told me, just time keeping, swinging, the way we kind of dress as musicians if you're doing a nice gig. Almost everything. Just playing with people, listening. I pretty much take all of those lessons and try to teach them to other people.
On the role of a drummer in an ensemble
Lewis: If you're playing with somebody new, they say swing, they say latin bossa, they say whatever kind of groove, funk, just keep that time. You don't got to add in all this other stuff. And that's part of the reason why I always even to this day, I'm like, let's rehearse, or here's a new thing. All I want to bring is my bass drum, my snare, my hi-hat, here's a little crash. I want no toms, no cowbell. No, I'm just going to concentrate. I just want to get the groove right with the band, feel the bass player, the rhythm section, and I'll learn the song. And then, you know, at the gig, you bring all that stuff if you want, but first things first.
"Keep the time first, let that groove and gel. Then all the other stuff is just icing on the cake." - D'Vonne Lewis
On always learning
Lewis: I used to be like, man, I wonder why just a lot of jazz guys and every musician, they just keep playing. One, they always say because they're still learning. I was watching this clip of Vinnie Colaiuta, and they're like, "Vinnie, what are all these drummers, you know, what do you think?" Him, Dave Weckl, Dennis Chambers, they're like, "Man, I'm still learning." And it's cool to see all this. But they're the guys that everybody kind of looked up to and they're still learning. That's one thing I like to try to do, too.
About D'Vonne Lewis
Winner of the 2013, 2018 and 2021 “NW Instrumentalist of the Year” honors in the Seattle Earshot Jazz Golden Ear Awards, D’Vonne Lewis is the grandson of the ‘Godfather’ of rock and roll/soul, 1950s-1960s Northwest organ legend, Dave Lewis.
Lewis graduated with honors from Seattle’s Roosevelt High School in 2002 and was a member of the award-winning jazz band directed by Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra trombonist, Scott Brown. While in high school, Lewis received the Essentially Ellington Drum soloist award for the years 2000, 2001 and 2002. He resides in Seattle, WA and extensively tours and performs various gigs in styles ranging from jazz, big band, funk, to hip-hop, rock, Brazilian and African.
This episode was previously recorded and mentions performances that have since passed: Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra’s concerts featuring Christian McBride on May 30 & 31, 2026 and a performance with Johnaye Kendrick at Seattle Jazz Fellowship on June 5, 2026.
Learn more about D'Vonne Lewis and follow his upcoming performances:
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