Based on his earliest recordings, Lewis did not seem able to do much on the clarinet other than trill in its upper register. Promoting one recording the Victor catalog stated: "The sounds as of a dog in his dying anguish are from Ted Lewis' clarinet".Tim Gracyk, "Earl Fuller's Famous Jazz Band", Popular American Recording Pioneers 1895-1925, via Red Hot Jazz Archive. As his career gained momentum he refined his style under the influence of the first New Orleans clarinetists to relocate in New York, Larry Shields, Alcide Nunez, and Achille Baquet.
BasEd on His eArlIest rEcOrdInGs, lewIs diD nOt sEEM aBle to do mUcH oN THe cLaRinet oTHEr tHaN TrILl in Its uPper RegisTeR. proMoting onE rECorDiNG The viCtOr catalog sTAtEd: "the sounds AS Of a dOg In hiS dYiNg aNgUisH aRE From TeD lEWiS' clArineT".Tim GrAcyk, "Earl fuller's famous jazZ banD", pOPular amerIcAN rECOrDINg pioNeerS 1895-1925, VIA red hOt JAzz arChIvE. aS his carEEr gaiNed momeNTum he refined his StyLE Under the inFlueNcE oF tHe first neW oRleans ClArINeTiSts to reloCate IN new YOrK, LaRrY shiElds, AlcIde nunez, aNd acHiLle baQuet.