In late 1943, Sabby Lewis, the most important figure in Boston jazz in the forties, wanted to break out of the New England region. He turned to Charlie Shribman for help. Shribman, the Boston-based kingmaker of the big band era, promptly booked Lewis for 16 weeks at New York’s Club Zanzibar (West 49th and Broadway) beginning in January 1944. Lewis had worked in New York clubs before, at Mr. Kelly’s and the Famous Door in 1942. The Club Zanzibar job was better, though. Not only did it run for four months, it also came with radio time. WOR carried the Lewis band live two or three nights per week.

Pianist and Bandleader Sabby Lewis

The regular Lewis ensemble in 1944 was the septet: Ricky Pratt, tenor; Jerry Heffron, tenor and arranger; probably Ray Perry, alto and violin; Gene Caines, trumpet; Maceo Bryant, trumpet and trombone; Al Morgan, bass; Joe Booker, drums, and Lewis on piano. Lewis, however, expanded his group in New York (the union might have insisted on it). But what expansion! His 1944 New York band included both Freddie Webster and Idrees Sulieman on trumpet, Big Nick Nicholas on tenor, George James on tenor and baritone, and Al Hayes on trombone.

Nicholas deemed the band’s book first-rate. Sabby bought good arrangements, from Tadd Dameron, Don Redman, and Boston arranger Highland Diggs, among others. Diggs wrote and arranged the Lewis band’s theme song, “Minor Mania,” during the Club Zanzibar engagement.

Nicholas stayed on the band when it returned to Boston. He studied at the Boston Conservatory while continuing to work with Lewis, and he started giving lessons himself, in a studio above the Savoy nightclub. Nicholas remained in Boston for two years.

The Lewis orchestra recorded in New York in 1944, and the music was released on the Phoenix Jazz LP Boston Bounce in 1975. Used copies turn up regularly, available through the online sellers.