From: Princeton, New Jersey. LA Opera: Audra McDonald concerts in 2013, 2018 and 2023.
Gene Lewin appears on 38 CDs, with several more soon to be released. His eclectic discography ranges from the modern jazz of Fundementia to the electric-violin pop of GrooveLily. Several jazz and theater projects, and singer-songwriter efforts round out the list. Gene played drums, sang and composed for GrooveLily, a trio that was together for 20 years and toured extensively in the U.S. and Canada. While they morphed through many different musical scenes (and hair styles), they eventually became focused on creating hybrid musical theater; performances that feel both like concert and story. The band’s credits in this area include a production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (directed by Tina Landau), Striking 12 and the autobiographical show Wheelhouse.
Gene has been touring with Audra McDonald since 2005. He also performs periodically with Kelli O’Hara, Sophie B. Hawkins and many well-respected singers and instrumentalists in New York City’s jazz scene. He has appeared on CDs with bassists John Patitucci and Scott Colley, guitarists Ben Monder and Steve Cardenas, jazz legend tenor saxophonist George Coleman, bassist/vocalist Jay Leonhart, and many others.
After graduating from Princeton University with a degree in electrical engineering and computer science, Gene soon changed paths and returned to school to receive a master's degree from the Manhattan School of Music in 1991. He sends love to wife Suzanne and sons Elias and Jacob.
