In this episode of Afropolitan Dialogues, we speak with Grammy-winning musician, composer, and educator Larnell Lewis about his upcoming tribute concert, A Glimpse of Quincy, premiering at Toronto’s Luminato Festival. We explore Larnell’s personal encounters with Quincy Jones, his creative process, and how fatherhood and community shape his ever-evolving artistic journey.
Conversation overview
Larnell Lewis takes us inside the making of A Glimpse of Quincy, a heartfelt tribute concert honouring the late Quincy Jones, premiering at the 2025 Luminato Festival. He reflects on performing with Quincy in Europe, directing the TIFF screening of Quincy, and the challenge of capturing the essence of an icon through music.
The conversation delves into Larnell’s Caribbean musical roots, his early days of drumming in church, and how his family’s love of music shaped his path. He speaks passionately about the duality of improvisation and composition, revealing how he curates arrangements that let each musician shine authentically.
The episode also highlights his work with the genre-defying collective Snarky Puppy, the influence of musical legends such as Stevie Wonder and Oscar Peterson, and his commitment to mentoring the next generation at Humber College.
We also get a touching glimpse into Larnell’s solo work, including the family-inspired Slice of Life album, which features his daughter’s voice, as well as his collaborative projects with his wife, Joy Lapps, such as Flow Fest and A Caribbean Christmas Mixtape.
Key topics & timestamps
[00:01:54] Curating “A Glimpse of Quincy”
“I have an all-star cast from Toronto... featuring Divine Brown, Kirk Diamond, Joy Lapps, Omar Lunan.”
[00:03:18] Touring & Performing with Quincy Jones
“We did just a few dates, mainly in Europe... one of which is on Quest TV.”
[00:04:41] Musical Roots & Upbringing
“Music as far as I know goes back to my great grandfather... my brother is the drummer for The Weeknd.”
[00:06:52] Improvisation & Composition Philosophy
“When I'm composing a song, I am improvising a melody... both are two sides of the same coin.”
[00:09:29] Musical Influences
“My first known interaction with Quincy was ‘Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration’... also, Stevie Wonder, Tony Williams, Herbie Hancock, and many more.”
[00:12:01] Collaboration with Snarky Puppy
“It's really a group of people... where I can just turn around and say, ‘Hey, I'm working on this. Can you give me some advice?’”
[00:15:20] Personal Albums & Storytelling through Music
“Slice of Life is really about my life as a husband, father, and composer.”
[00:19:20] Featuring His Daughter on “Hide and Seek”
“I thought it was fitting… to have my daughter say, ‘Can we play hide and seek?’ It was the most pure way I could reflect life.”
[00:20:59] Choosing Musicians for the Tribute
“It’s a chance to pull this side of my musical family together... and just make some music.”
[00:24:55] Mentorship & Music Education
“I try to help students understand they are built for this time... and connect with the music that came before.”
[00:28:59] What’s Next: Flow Fest & Future Projects
“My wife and I are co-curators of the Flow Fest in Brampton... and we have our Christmas project, the Caribbean Christmas Mixtape.”
Impactful quotes from the conversation
“When I'm composing a song, I am improvising a melody. And when I am improvising, I am trying to think about something that has and holds weight similar to a composition.”
— Larnell Lewis on his creative approach
“Music chose me—but in a sense, I was already in that wave because of my family.”
— Larnell Lewis on growing up immersed in music
“It’s about connection... to our past, our future, our people. That’s the constant in music.”
— Larnell Lewis on mentorship and musical purpose
“I wanted to reflect life. Including my daughter’s voice on the track was the most pure way I could do that.”
— Larnell Lewis on fatherhood and composing Hide and Seek
“With Luminato, I’m honored to be showcasing these incredible musicians as a part of this tribute to Quincy Jones.”
— Larnell Lewis on A Glimpse of Quincy
Show info
A Glimpse of Quincy
📍 Harbourfront Concert Stage, Toronto
📅 Friday, June 13, 2025
🎭 Presented by Luminato Festival
🎤 Featuring: Divine Brown, Kirk Diamond, Joy Lapps, Omar Lunan, and more
💃 Come ready to dance — “Bring nice shoes that look good and feel good.”
>> Get tickets
Connect with Larnell Lewis
- Website: larnelllewismusic.com
- Instagram: @larnelllewismusic
- Twitter/X: @Larnell_Lewis
- Collaborations: joylapsmusic.com
About the podcast
Afropolitan Dialogues features in-depth and insightful conversations with Black changemakers from around the world in music, the arts, entrepreneurship, and beyond. Subscribe on your favourite podcast platform and visit podcast.afrotoronto.com to hear more episodes.
Final thought
Larnell Lewis shows us that honouring a legend means not only preserving a legacy but adding to it with heart, soul, and community. Whether through tribute concerts, mentorship, or family albums, his rhythm is rooted in connection — and that’s what makes it timeless.
