remarked in an interview. Declining health and death In the late 1980s, Lewis was diagnosed with melanoma. It was identified in his arm, then surfaced in his lungs, and ultimately went to his brain. He died on February 2, 1990, just days before his band was to celebrate its 24th anniversary at the Village Vanguard. Discography Mellifluous (Gatemouth, 1981) Mel Lewis and the Orchestra Naturally (Telarc, 1979) Live in Montreux: Mel Lewis Plays Herbie Hancock (MPS, 1980)) Live at the Village Vanguard...Featuring the Music of Bob Brookmeyer (1980) Mel Lewis and the Jazz Orchestra (Finesse, 1982) 20 Years at the Village Vanguard (Atlantic, 1985) The Definitive Thad Jones, Live from the Village Vangard (Nimbus, 1988) Definitive Thad Jones, Vol. 1 (MusicMasters, 1988) Definitive Thad Jones, Vol. 2 (MusicMasters, 1988) Soft Lights and Hot Music (MusicMasters, 1988) To You: A Tribute to Mel Lewis (MusicMasters, 1990) Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra Opening Night (recorded 1966, released Alan Grant Presents, 2000) Presenting Thad Jones / Mel Lewis and the Jazz Orchestra (Solid State, 1966) Presenting Joe Williams and Thad Jones / Mel Lewis, The Jazz Orchestra (Solid State, 1966) Live at the Village Vanguard (Solid State, 1967) The Big Band Sound of Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Featuring Miss Ruth Brown (Solid State, 1968) Monday Night (Solid State, 1968) Central Park North (Solid State, 1969) Basle, 1969 (recorded 1969, released TCB, 1996) Consummation (Blue Note, 1970) Live in Tokyo (Denon, 1974) Potpourri (Philadelphia International, 1974) Thad Jones / Mel Lewis and Manuel De Sica (Pausa, 1974) Suite for Pops (A&M, 1975) New Life: Dedicated to Max Gordon (A&M, 1975) Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra With Rhoda Scott aka Rhoda Scott in New York with... (1976) Live in Munich (A&M, 1976) It Only Happens Every Time (1977) EMI – with Monica Zetterlund Body and Soul aka Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra in Europe (1978) West Wind – Live in Berlin A Touch of Class (West Wind, 1978) – Live in Warsaw Thad Jones Mel Lewis Quartet The Thad Jones Mel Lewis Quartet (Artists House, 1978) Mel Lewis Mel Lewis Sextet (Mode Records, 1957) Mel Lewis and Friends (A&M, 1977) Video Jazz Casual – Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra... (recorded 1968) – a 1968 television appearance Compilations The Blue Note Reissue Series: Thad Jones / Mel Lewis (Blue Note, recorded 1966 – 1970) The Complete Solid State Recordings of the Thad Jones