Greg Lewis

Gregory Lewis is a Brooklyn-based Hammond organist who records and tours as Organ Monk, a project devoted to reimagining Thelonious Monk's compositions on the B3. He grew up in Long Island City absorbing Monk through his father's record collection, and studied in the jazz program at The New School under the mentorship of pianist Gil Coggins. A sub gig Coggins sent him to turned out to have a Hammond organ waiting instead of the expected piano, and the instrument became his own, with Larry Young's readings of Monk a lasting touchstone. His albums include Organ Monk (2010), Uwo in the Black (2012), American Standard (2013), The Breathe Suite (2017), Organ Monk Blue, and Organ Monk Going Home (2023, Sunnyside Records), the last cut with guitarist Kevin McNeal and drummer Nasheet Waits. Critics voted him the No. 1 Rising Star organist in DownBeat's 72nd Annual Critics Poll.