Melvin Sokoloff (May 10, 1929 – February 2, 1990), known professionally as Mel Lewis, was an American jazz drummer, session musician, professor, and author.

The group started as informal jam sessions with the top studio and jazz musicians of the city, but eventually began performing regularly on Monday nights at the famed venue, the Village Vanguard.

In 1976, he released an album titled Mel Lewis and Friends that featured him leading a smaller sextet that allowed freedom and improvisation.

[1] Lewis continued to lead the band, recording and performing every Monday night at the Village Vanguard until shortly before his death from cancer at age 60.

[5] With Pepper Adams With Manny Albam With Frankie Avalon With Chet Baker With Bob Brookmeyer With Kenny Burrell With Benny Carter With Buck Clayton With Al Cohn With Bob Cooper With Hank Crawford and Jimmy McGriff With Eddie Daniels With Eric Dolphy With Maynard Ferguson With Dean Friedman With Stan Getz With Dizzy Gillespie With Jimmy Hamilton With Johnny Hodges With Thad Jones and Pepper Adams Quintet With Stan Kenton With Morgana King With Jimmy Knepper With Peggy Lee With Joe Lovano With Johnny Mandel With Herbie Mann With Warne Marsh With Jack McDuff With Gary McFarland With Jimmy McGriff With Melanie With Helen Merrill With James Moody With Bette Midler With Gerry Mulligan With Mark Murphy With Anita O'Day With Chico O'Farrill With Esther Phillips With Shorty Rogers With Pete Rugolo With Sal Salvador With Shirley Scott With Bud Shank With Frank Sinatra With Sonny Stitt With Gerald Wilson With Jimmy Witherspoon With Emily Yancy