Saxophoneophonist and composer James Brandon Lewis possesses an inspiring energy. His deep curiosity and the thrill he gets from discovery are crucial facets of his personality, and qualities that guide his art. Over the last half-decade he’s emerged as one of the most exciting figures in jazz and improvised music, a voracious listener who rejects stylistic hierarchies and one that has feverishly explored new ideas and embraced fresh motivations with every new project.
Inspired by molecular biology James Brandon develops a special system for a surprising and beautiful music with his Quartet with drummer Chad Taylor, pianist Aruán Ortiz, and bassist Brad Jones. He has taken the idea of a “Molecular Systematic Music” to heart in the formulation of the compositions featured on the stunning debut album by this quartet.
James Brandon Lewis says: “I wrote out everything, but the reason I feel like the music is still free is because the lines dictate the harmonic information. With this band the music is going to lift off the page.” Listen to the recordings: The James Brandon Lewis Quartet takes off with an exuberant joy of playing and that rhytmic intensity and thematic beauty that is rooted in the jazz tradition.

Cover art and graphic design: Paul Bieri, Berlin
Photos: Thomas Sayers Ellis
Liner notes: Peter Margasak

All compositions by James Brandon Lewis
(JamesBrandonLewismusic/ ascap). Recorded January 13, 2020,
by Ryan Streber at OktavenAudio, Mt Vernon, NY. Mixed and
mastered February 2020 by Ryan Streber at Oktaven Audio.
Produced and published by Intakt Records, Patrik Landolt, Anja Illmaier, Florian Keller, P.O.Box, 8024 Zürich, Switzerland.