Pianist Ramsey Lewis is one of the lucky few jazz musicians to cross over with an instrumental hit, his first being the 1965 smash "The In Crowd." Ever since, Lewis has drawn pop-music-size crowds. Though his music is a little on the slick side for hard-core jazzers, there's no denying his technical prowess and funky feeling for the blues. Lewis plays Seattle this time with an electric band — Joshua Ramos (bass), Charles Heath (drums) and Tim Gant (keyboards) — with the express purpose of revisiting his 1970s album "Sun Goddess."

Lewis opened a four-night stand Thursday and continues at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley, 2033 Sixth Ave., Seattle; $30.50 (206-441-9729 or www.jazzalley.com).

Paul de Barros, Seattle Times jazz critic