Eye Of I

Description

New York saxophonist James Brandon Lewis presents his new album: "Eye Of I" James Brandon Lewis is a New York-based jazz tenor saxophonist, composer, and bandleader. His instrumental voice marries the emotional power of gospel, the grit and groove of the blues and R&B, the modal and avant-garde influence of Albert Ayler and John Coltrane, and the expressive melodic and tonal discipline of Sonny Rollins. His 2010 debut album, "Moments," was followed by two releases for Sony Masterworks' OKeh label: "Divine Travels" in 2014 and the highly acclaimed Days of Freeman the following year. After touring American venues and clubs, he toured European and Asian festivals. Radiant Imprints, a duo release with drummer Chad Taylor, appeared in 2018 and was followed by the quintet offering An UnRuly Manifesto a year later. Along the way, Lewis has caught the attention of numerous improvisational artists, including saxophonist and jazz deity Sonny Rollins, who is not often effusive in his praise. Moved by Lewis's deep, spiritual sound, Rollins stated, "When I listen to you, I listen to Buddha, I listen to Confucius... I listen to the deep meaning of life." "Eye of I" opens with 44 seconds of a gritty, up-and-down groove, an ear-shattering opening that is meant to cleanse the palate of any trace of the ordinary.