Edit history

“In a sea of pedestrians, Reuben stands out as an intrepid explorer.” – Julien Wilson Reuben Lewis’s practice is both singular and eclectic. As an active composer and bandleader he has refined a diverse electro-acoustic language, devised through trumpet with extended techniques and preparations alongside live analogue processing with pedals and amplifiers, that is as much at home in a beer-stained nightclub or contemporary theatre space as it is on a hilltop in Malaysia surrounded by dancers and bull-trance shamans. Reuben has become widely known for his strong artistic vision and ability to bring people together. His latest studio album, titled ‘Abstract Playgrounds’, was released through Earshift Music and gained international acclaim – including a glowing review in ‘The Wire’ magazine and a nomination for the Best Australian Jazz Ensemble at the Bell Awards for his ensemble I Hold the Lion’s Paw. Other commissions include multidisciplinary work ‘i know that i know’, which premiered at the 2017 Melbourne Festival with the ensemble ACME, ‘Sleep Talk’ for the jazz orchestra UNFIX featuring vocalist Georgie Darvidis and the Penny String Quartet, as well as the Instagram series ‘The World Died Today While You Were On Your Phone’ I Hold the Great Rack. He has featured on releases as diverse as ‘Cold Radish Coma’ and ‘Elevate’ by renowned Melbourne nu-soul outfit, 30/70 as well as ‘Half Mile Harvest’ and 'Live at the Forum' by multi-ARIA winning band The Teskey Brothers.