ELEW: From Camden to ELEW Plays Sting at SFJAZZ

Episode Summary

Pianist Eric Lewis (ELEW) joins Backstage Bay Area to trace a path from a five-piano childhood in Camden, New Jersey, to the creation of Rockjazz, a career-shaping stint with {{Elvin Jones}}, and his latest project, ELEW Plays Sting. We explore how he translates songs like “Message in a Bottle” and “Walking on the Moon” for solo piano, why Sting’s writing resonates with him, and what to expect from his upcoming shows at the Joe Henderson Lab at SFJAZZ.

• Origin story: a four-generation musical family, conservatory training, and early mentors

• Lessons from the bandstand with Elvin Jones, plus touring with jazz greats

• Rockjazz: shaping a solo-piano language with rock energy and jazz rigor

• Why Sting: the harmonic/melodic DNA of the Police songbook and beyond

• Inside the album: “piano portraiture,” left-hand counterpoint, and arranging approaches

• Previewing ELEW Plays Sting live at SFJAZZ (dates below)

• “I am the fourth generation of classical musicians in my family.”

• “After winning the Monk Competition, I was not considered record label material—then Elvin called.”

• “It was like father and son with Elvin—absolute nectar.”

• “Rockjazz is mostly rock and some jazz. It is about energy—and precision.”

• “I think of these as piano portraits—keeping the contour and harmony while changing the canvas.”

• “Message in a Bottle” (The Police) — ELEW solo piano arrangement

• “Walking on the Moon” (The Police) — with guest alto saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins on the album

Eric Lewis (ELEW) is a pianist and composer whose career spans touring with {{Wynton Marsalis}} and performing with Elvin Jones to developing Rockjazz, a high-voltage solo-piano approach that bridges rock and jazz. His new project, ELEW Plays Sting, reimagines Sting’s catalog for solo piano (with select guests).

ELEW — ELEW Plays Sting
Joe Henderson Lab (SFJAZZ), San Francisco
Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025 — 7:00 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025 — 6:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: Visit SFJAZZ.org and search “ELEW Plays Sting.”

Host/Producer: Steven Roby — Backstage Bay Area
Editing & Post: Backstage Bay Area team

• Backstage Bay Area: www.backstagebayarea.com

• SFJAZZ: www.sfjazz.org

• Follow ELEW on social media and streaming platforms