New Orleans guitarist/composer Jesse Lewis quickly made a name for himself after moving to the Crescent City in 1996, working with numerous area jazz artists. Raised in the New England area, Lewis studied formally at Loyola University and the University of New Orleans, where his teachers included Steve Masakowski and John Eubanks. A very busy performer, Lewis is part of the Albert-Ankrum Project and recorded an album of his own in 2002, Union. The album features a large band that features some of New Orleans' best contemporary jazz musicians: James Alsanders (drums), Mark Anderson (bass), Jason Marsalis (bass), Brian Seeger (pedal steel), Scott Bourgeois (sax/flute), Derek Douget (alto sax), Andrew Baham (trumpet), and Jesse Lewis (guitar). Shortly after the release of Union, he performed with the band every Thursday night at the Station House Grill and also appeared regularly at the Crescent City Brewhouse. ~ Jason Birchmeier, Rovi