Now, A Jazz Moment...

MUSIC: "Something You Got" CD: Ramsey Lewis's Finest Hour, Verve 314 543 763-2 (cut 10)

When 2007 NEA Jazz Master Ramsey Lewis performs, he always strives to connect with his audience.

Ramsey Lewis: The reason that an artist leaves his studio or his home and goes out to play concerts is because there's the desire to share what he or she has to say musically. I mean, we're social animals and we like to share our feelings, our thoughts. Now, if you say, well how do you do that? I don't know if I could write 10 easy ways to connect with an audience. I know you have to believe in what you're doing, you have to believe in your music, believe in your ability, believe that what you're doing is honest, truthful, and real, and I think that comes through...

MUSIC: up for punctuation, then fades

People say, "You guys seem to be having so much fun up there." Well, we are.

MUSIC: up and fades

This Jazz Moment with pianist Ramsey Lewis was created by the National Endowment for the Arts.