By Filipe Freitas

Name: Chad Lefkowitz-Brown
Instrument: saxophone
Style: post-bop
Album Highlights: Onward (Self Released, 2017)

Last year you released the album Quarantine Standards with your Virtual Big Band in response to this devastating pandemic. Can you talk about your process for that particular record as well as your choices of songs and musicians?
I always wanted to make a big band album, but part of what's so hard about getting that together is getting all those exceptional musicians in one room. So as soon as it occurred to me that everyone was stuck at home with no bookings, I reached out to a bunch of musicians to see who had home-recording setups. As soon as I got all the musicians together, I had my manager, Austin Kruczek, facilitate all the logistics to get everyone recording video and audio for this massive project. I'm so grateful that we were able to make it all happen and it was really special to have a creative project to work on during lockdown. We are in the initial stages of making another remote project happen as we continue to dream up projects to do in the current global climate.

What about this upcoming album, Quartet Sessions? The idea of playing jazz standards and American songbook titles is to maintain in the future?
This will be my 8th album as a leader, and I always enjoy exploring a variety of styles and approaches. I've recorded albums of originals, straight-ahead albums, live albums, electric albums, and now the big band album. This album is a continuation of dedicating myself to the standard saxophone quartet format that I will always be fascinated by. The four piece ensemble, and specifically the sax-piano-bass-drums format, is always special to me, and I assembled two different groups together with some of my favorite long-time collaborators. For instance, I've played with both of the drummers (Bryan Carter and Corey Fonville) for almost 15 years now.

Having lived in NYC and San Francisco, what do you like and dislike the most about those cities?
I've spent a lot of time in San Francisco because I'm on faculty at the San Francisco Conservatory as a visiting artist, but I've always been based in New York. Needless to say, New York is the ultimate mecca for jazz, but San Francisco also has a truly special jazz community, with SFJAZZ and now the conservatory programming so many great concerts. There are also some great clubs throughout the city like Club Deluxe, and some really exceptional SF based musicians like saxophonist Patrick Wolff.

What were the rewards of touring with artists like Chris Botti and Taylor Swift?
I continue to tour with Chris (the pandemic causing a pause of course) and it's been a highlight of my career. His versatility and showmanship is really inspiring. I play on a number of shows as a featured soloist and it's really special to be a part of such an outstanding program.

Besides music, what other interests do you have in life?
Music is such a passion for me, so I don't feel much of a need to have other interests. Beyond my performance/recording career, I also own a digital publishing company, Jazz Lesson Videos, and so I release all sorts of educational content for aspiring jazz musicians on that platform. With all that going on, I don't have much time or desire to pursue other hobbies. I do read a lot of nonfiction. Most recently I finished Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari, and am currently reading his most recent work, Homo Deux.

What was the first jazz record you fell in love with?
Dexter Gordon - GO!

Name 2 persons who influenced you the most as a musician.
My father and the drummer George Reed. George was a drummer who played with greats like Teddy Wilson and Marian McPartland. He spent the last few decades of his life in Elmira, New York, where I'm from, and I was fortunate enough to start gigging with him when I was 11-years-old. At that time he was in his late 70s. He took me under his wing and showed me the spirit of the music through his playing and friendship. I'm forever grateful for that experience.

Name 2 persons whom you’ve never collaborated with but you’d like to.
I would love to play with Jack Dejohnette and Herbie Hancock.

Can you briefly describe one of the hardest and one of the happiest moments of your career?
At this point I try not to look back and feel like anything has been good or bad in my career. I'm grateful that I've spent, and continue to spend, my life playing music. It's just what I do, and I'm grateful for that.

What would you have been if you weren’t a musician?
I wouldn't have it any other way!