By Filipe Freitas
James Brandon Lewis, 2018 by ©Clara Pereira
Name: James Brandon Lewis
Instrument: tenor saxophone
Style: contemporary jazz, modal, avant-garde jazz
Album Highlights: Radiant Imprints (Off, 2018), Code of Being (Intakt, 2021), Jesup Wagon (TAO Forms, 2021)
Many outlets, including JazzTrail, cited you as Musician of the Year 2021 thanks to your compositional and performing skills in two excellent recordings - Jesup Wagon and Code of Being. What does this mean to you? Do you feel any sort of pressure to maintain creativity at its peak in the future?
I am thankful that people enjoyed these records. You never know, and I stay away from trying to find out what people like to interfere with my honesty. I make honest music that I dig .. and if people dig it, then that's a blessing, and if they don't, that's also a blessing. All answers are within art! There is no pressure because I owe it to myself to be 110 percent honest with myself every time, to give my all, to honor the sacrifices made by others and myself for this music... no pressure at all... every moment, album, song, vibe is different. I am never trying to outdo what already has happened; I am only concerned with allowing myself to breathe into the next moment, the next lived experience, and honor that. Pressure would be playing and making music I don't love, and then pretending that I do. That's pressure, and I stay away from things that I am not giving my all to...
What do you think of the world today, and what’s its influence in your music making?
The world is in great turmoil right now , hopefully music can bring some happiness , love and care to those who need it.
You’ve been touring lately in trio with cellist Christopher Hoffman and drummer Max Jaffe. How did you guys start playing together? Any record in mind with this configuration?
This group recorded a brand new record over the summer, and a major announcement is coming soon . I started playing with these gents over the summer. The concept of James Brandon Lewis Trio in general has existed for years now, and the format is about chasing energy, raw emotion, propelling melodies and solos, and everything forward. There is some other stuff in the works for the fall.
When did you decide to become a professional musician?
At 9 years old I knew I wanted to be a musician. I did not know about the word "professional " in relation to the word musician but I knew music was for me.
Can you name two persons who influenced you the most as a saxophonist?
Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane.
Can you name two persons whom you’ve never collaborated with but you’d like to?
I wish I could have collaborated with Geri Allen... Playing with Matthew Shipp would be great , after years of him being a mentor and friend.
3 jazz records that changed your perspective of jazz?
Bill Barron - Motivation; Ornette Coleman - The Shape of Jazz to Come; Frank Lowe - Black Beings.
Your music, besides spiritual, can be very eclectic. Can you list 3 non-jazz records that you have in high consideration?
Mos Def - Black on Both Sides; Mos Def & Talib Kweli - Black Star; Common - Like Water for Chocolate.
What would you have been if you weren’t a musician?
Scientist/inventor.
Projects for the near future?
Look out for the JBL Trio record announcement !!! It’s coming soon. I’m also working on a new Red Lily Quintet record (on Tao Forms label) and Molecular Quartet record (on Intakt Records).