About - The Cloud9 Mission - Jazz, Soul and Funk Music Artist Project

Born on Christmas Eve 1983, Lewis Partridge began his musical career at the very early age of 3 when his parents bought his first Drum Kit. Inspired by his father, John Partridge, he began to play Drums at every opportunity and soon employed the teaching services of Big Band Drum Teacher, Freddie Wells. Freddie taught him essential reading and technique skills giving a solid rhythmical base to his music.

Lewis first performed in public at age 7 when he stood in with The Wellington Bootles for whom his Dad plays Bass Guitar . He was then introduced to the Piano by his father and the Piano served as a composing instrument for many of his first songs. He developed his rhythmical Piano playing style when school Piano Teacher, John Blackwell, became his teacher from 1999-2001. John Blackwell instructed him in Jazz Piano technique and music theory while he attended Northfields Upper School. Northfields Swing Band also employed his drumming services and he toured with them to many foreign countries including Holland, Spain and Italy for 3-4 years. Many thanks to Steve Merriman and The Northfields Swing Band.

He was taught Guitar and Bass by his father at the age of 9 and took to the Bass Guitar especially. He found that the Bass was a key element in Jazz, Soul and Funk music and was beginning to embrace these styles. Lewis also found his own first band and began performing concerts in and around his local town. Previous bands he has played for include Headfly, The Wellington Bootles, Magic Rising and Farouche.

Lewis is now a professional Grade 8 Drum teacher at Greenbank Music Village. He currently plays Drums for awesome Funk, Reggae Ska band New Groove Formation, Experimental/Progressive band The Claret Sky and Jazz Artist Brian Jones.

Much of his inspiration comes from the prolific work of God, John Partridge, Prince, Donny Hathaway, Marvin Gaye, Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond, Dietrick Haddon, Myron Butler and Levi, Brian Mcknight, Rance Allen, Bebe Winans, Cece Winans, James Brown, Tower of Power, The Yellow Jackets, D Angelo, Miles Davis, Bob Marley, Burt Bacharach, Free, Aretha Franklin, Beverly Knight, Lenny Kravitz, Bill Withers, Jill Scott, Joni Mitchell, Joss Stone, Otis Redding, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Curtis Mayfield, Al Green, Wilson Picket, Sam and Dave, Angie Stone, Weather Report, Herbie Hancock, Alex Welsh Band, Jim Douglas, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus, Theolonious Monk, Acker Bilk, Tracy Chapman, Sly and the Family Stone, Usher, Destinys Child, Quincy Jones, Santana, Ventian Snares, Aphex Twin, The Time, The Roots, Alicia Keys, Rosie Gaines, Remy Shand, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Frank Zappa, David Bowie, Boyz II Men, Simply Red, Maceo Parker, Earth, Wind and Fire, The Meters, Chaka Khan, Jamiroquai, John Legend, Sting, Joshua Redman, Parliament/Funkadelic, Jimmy Cliff, Michael Jackson, BB King, Steely Dan, The Beatles, Dave Weckl, John Blackwell, Jojo Mayer, Gerald Heyward, Aaron Spears, Thomas Pridgen, Jeremy Haynes, Brian Frasier-Moore, Gary Chester, Thomas McCree, Derico Watson, Marcus Baylor, Michael Bland, Questlove, Omar Hakim, Dennis Chambers, Mike Mangini, Johnny Rabb, Billy Cobham, Buddy Rich, Art Blakey, Elvin Jones, Jim Chapin, Joe Morello, Tony Williams, Chick Webb, Lionel Hampton, Clayton Cameron , Steve Gadd , David Garibaldi, John Jabo Starks, Clyde Stubblefield, Tony Royster Jr, Steve Smith, Nat Townsley, J.D. Blair, Stanton Moore, Steve Jordan, Carter Beauford, Gary Chaffee, Vinnie Colaiuta, Virgil Donati, Akira Jimbo, Thomas Lang, Victor Wooten, Willie Weeks, Jaco Pastorious, Marcus Miller, Rocco Prestia, Richard Bona, Rhonda Smith, Bootsy Collins, Larry Graham, Jimmy Haslip, Stanley Clarke, Squarepusher, Jimi Hendrix, Greg Howe, Roben Ford, Pat Metheny, Scott Henderson and John Scofield.

Lewis began writing the songs for The Cloud9 Mission in early 1999. Recording started in 2001 and this web site followed shortly after. All music heard on this website is composed, arranged and performed entirely by Lewis. It is a collection of music and dreams for the appreciation of the world.

Why The Cloud9 Mission? The expression Cloud9 is used to convey happiness. As this was not original and Cloud9 had become more of a Christian mission to change the music industry, The Cloud9 Mission seemed more appropriate. The entire project is about inspiring happiness and positivity through Gods gift of music and believing that there is more to music that simple profit.