Even for
an artist hailed by Ebony Magazine as one of "7 Young Players to
Watch" who has studied with jazz heavyweights like Charlie Haden, Wadada
Leo Smith, Dave Douglas, Joshua Redman, and Matthew Shipp, it takes
considerable confidence and courage for a young musician to match wits with
veteran improvisers like William Parker and Gerald Cleaver. But on his second
release, Divine Travels, saxophonist James Brandon Lewis does just that, not
only holding his own with that masterful rhythm section but leading them down
fresh and unexpected pathways.
Divine
Travels melds the holy spirit of a gospel service with the fiery expression of
free jazz, the intuitive dialogue of skilled improvisers with the stunning
invention of a first meeting. Lewis' music draws in equal parts on his
considerable studies and his roots in the church, as well as his considerable
curiosity to discover more and deeper connections within his music.
Lewis'
unique stamp can be heard throughout Divine Travels, which results in Parker
and Cleaver revealing new facets in their own strongly individual voices.
Fragments of gospel melodies emerge and evoke starkly spiritual meditations in
tunes like "Wading Child in the Motherless Water," which weaves
together the familiar melodies of "Wade in the Water" and
"Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child." But even when not
explicitly referencing such traditional fare, Lewis shows a predilection for
direct, memorable folk-like melodies that he can then develop, evolve and
explore.
The
album also contains two collaborations with poet Thomas Sayers Ellis, who Lewis
has been working with since the two met at a residency in 2011. The
Brooklyn-based poet recites works from two of his books, Skin, Inc., and The
Maverick Room, which won the John C. Zacharis First Book Award in 2005.
The
title Divine Travels pays homage to Lewis' belief that the music contained
within is an expression of his own spiritual journey, marking both distance
traveled and experiences yet to unfold.
Lewis'
own travels began in Buffalo, New York in 1983. Lewis was raised in the church,
which formed the core of the saxophonist's spiritual outlook. While many
musicians are inspired by the church, Lewis says that its most important impact
was not musical but personal, laying the foundation for his creative approach.
After
graduating from the Buffalo Academy for the Visual and Performing Arts, Lewis
attended Howard University, where he studied with Charlie Young, performed with
the likes of Benny Golson, Geri Allen, and Wallace Roney, and backed John
Legend, k.d. lang, and Vanessa Williams at the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony
with the Howard University Jazz Ensemble.
In 2006,
Lewis moved to Colorado and pursued a career in gospel music, working with
Grammy® Award-winning singer Dorinda Clark Cole and the late "Queen of
Gospel Music," Albertina Walker. He relocated again to earn his Masters at
CalArts, where he was mentored by Charlie Haden, Wadada Leo Smith, Vinny Golia,
and Weather Report bassist Alphonso Johnson, who later hired Lewis to play in
his ensemble.
Lewis
released his debut album, Moments, in 2010, before moving to New York City in
2012. Since arriving in the city, he has performed with a wide range of
artists, including Charles Gayle, Ed Shuller, Kirk Knuffke, Jason Hwang ,
Marilyn Crispell, Ken Filiano, Cooper Moore, Darius Jones, Eri Yamamoto,
Federico Ughi, Kenny Wessel, Marvin "Bugalu" Smith, and Sabir Mateen,
and has worked with the dance company CircuitDebris under the direction of
Mersiha Mesihovic. He currently leads his own trio with Luke Stewart on bass
and Dominic Fragman on drums.
James
Brandon Lewis · Divine Travels / OKeh
· Release Date: February 4, 2014
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