A rising presence on the scene, New York-based tenor saxophonist James Brandon Lewis has received accolades from The New York Times, NPR, and countless other news outlets for his disciplined ability to combine myriad stylistic influences into a singularly expressive approach. Sonny Rollins told Jazz Magazine that Lewis is a “promising young player with the potential to do great things having listened to the Elders.” Lewis’ appreciation for the innovations of masters like Rollins, Coltrane, and Ayler is readily apparent in his melodic conflation of gospel, blues, R&B, modal jazz, and avant garde influences. Lewis was also recently voted Rising Star Tenor Saxophonist in Downbeat Magazine’s 2020 International Jazz Critic’s Poll.
Born in Buffalo, New York, Lewis was raised in the church. He attended the Buffalo Academy for the Visual and Performing Arts and continued his studies at Howard University, where he worked with Geri Allen, Benny Golson, Bill Pierce, and Wallace Roney. After graduating, Lewis moved to Colorado where he joined the gospel music community, performing with Albertina Walker. He then attended CalArts, receiving a Master of Fine Arts degree after studying with Vinny Golia, Charlie Haden, Alphonso Johnson, and Wadada Leo Smith. A stint at the Banf Jazz Residency found him working with Dave Douglas, Tony Malaby, Joshua Redman, Hank Roberts, and Angelica Sanchez. Lewis eventually relocated to New York City in 2012.
Lewis has released several critically acclaimed albums, leads numerous ensembles, and is the co-founder of American Book Award-winning poetry and music ensemble Heroes Are Gang Leaders. Moments, his debut album, was independently released in 2010. In marked contrast, Sony Masterworks’ revived OKeh imprint issued Lewis’ Divine Travels with bassist William Parker and drummer Gerald Cleaver in 2014. The following year, the major label put out the concept album Days Of FreeMan, featuring Lewis at the helm of a trio featuring bassist Jamaaladeen Tacuma and drummer Rudy Royston. In 2018, Lewis and drummer Chad Taylor released the improvised Radiant Imprints on Belgium’s Off label. The following year, Lewis recorded An UnRuly Manifesto for Relative Pitch Records, leading a quintet that included trumpeter Jaimie Branch, guitarist Anthony Pirog, bassist Luke Stewart, and drummer Warren G. Crudup III. Intakt released Lewis and Taylor’s concert performance at Switzerland’s annual jazz festival as Live In Willisau in 2020, as well as Molecular, a studio quartet date with pianist Aruán Ortiz, bassist Brad Jones, and Taylor on drums, which premiered Lewis’ new compositional strategy, “Molecular Systematic Music.”
Although unable to tour in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Lewis wrote a suite of compositions inspired by the life and work of George Washington Carver. In the fall of 2020, he assembled the intergenerational Red Lily Quintet – Kirk Knuffke on cornet, Chris Hoffman on cello, Parker on bass, and Taylor on drums – to record while socially distanced at Park West Studios in Brooklyn. Named after Carver’s first vehicle used in the Tuskegee Institute’s Movable School program, in the liner notes for Jesup Wagon author Robin D. G. Kelley states that “... Lewis has composed a body of work that captures the essence of Carver’s life, work, and vision ... Lewis peels back the facade of the old, kindly man conjuring up new uses for peanuts, to reveal the artist, botanist, ecologist, aesthete, musician, teacher, and seer who anticipated our current planetary crisis.” Jesup Wagon was released by Whit Dickey’s Tao Forms label in the spring of 2021. I interviewed Lewis that summer.
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Troy Collins: Some early biographical information might be of interest to readers unfamiliar with your background. How did you get your start playing music?
James Brandon Lewis: Buffalo Born (1983), I am proud of where I am from – an eclectic mix of all kinds of music: jazz, funk, rock, soul, etc. It’s a groove town: Charles Gayle to Grover Washington Jr., Soulive, Goo Goo Dolls, Juini Booth, so many others ... Jazz at Albright Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo Science Museum, Colored Musicians Club, and Pine Grill Jazz Reunion, etc.
My mom would expose me to these places, as a lover of music and art. Traded a dog for a sax (a friend of my dad’s): alto sax at 12, clarinet at 9. Charlie Parker was my first influence – but I was intimidated, not inspired – until later. I heard a work ethic and fluidity at the highest level. Eventually, I got inspired once I realized it’s all about working hard to find the truest version of yourself, every day.
I have always had an emotional connection to music – first from experiencing music in church to being fascinated with movie soundtracks. And my mom took notice. I was learning songs by ear around 8 years of age off the radio, movies, commercials, etc. I remember when Mr. Holland’s Opus came out, I remember being fascinated with the clarinet melody the teacher was teaching t...
