KEVIN LEWIS
Drummer • Percussionist • Producer
Kevin G. Lewis began his musical journey at the age of five, when his father brought home a beat-up Ludwig drum kit. Self-taught in his early years, Kevin’s passion and talent quickly became evident. By fourth grade, he joined the school band and went on to excel in both jazz and marching bands throughout high school, ultimately serving as section leader.
Driven by a love for performance and rhythm, Kevin shares his musical gift with audiences through his high-energy, heartfelt drumming. He performs on Yamaha Recording Custom Series drums and Latin Percussion instruments, delivering a blend of precision and soul in every beat.
Over the years, Kevin has performed live with a wide range of artists across jazz, R&B, and soul genres, including Tom Browne, Greg Chambers, Nick Colionne, Joel Del Rosario, Lebron Dennis, Tony Exum Jr., Jeannette Harris, Howard Hewett, Evelyn “Champagne” King, Dee Lucas, Eric Marienthal, Kenji Matsui, Chieli Minucci, Otoe Mori, Jeff Ryan, Paul Taylor, Brian Vargas, and Julian Vaughn.
His performances have graced notable venues such as Mable House Amphitheatre (Atlanta, GA), Blue Note (Napa, CA), Yoshi’s (Oakland, CA), Kuumbwa Jazz Center (Santa Cruz, CA), and the Impulse Lounge (Walnut Creek, CA), as well as television appearances on Fresno Great Day (KMPH Fox 26) and Good Day Sacramento (KMAX CBS Local).
Kevin’s studio work includes guest appearances as a percussionist and vocalist on two of Greg Chambers’ albums: After Hours (2013) and Can’t Help Myself (2014). In 2018, his contributions were recognized when he was officially inducted into the Impulsive Funk Brothers by Walnut Creek’s Impulse Lounge.
That same year, Kevin was introduced to Marco Montoya by guitarist Joel Del Rosario. After contributing insight and ideas to several upcoming tracks on Smooth Jazz Alley’s Let’s Ride album, Kevin officially joined the group. As a drummer and executive producer, he has played an essential role in shaping SJA’s evolving sound and production.
