James Brandon Lewis is a saxophonist from Buffalo, New York with twin backgrounds in gospel and jazz. After establishing himself in the former, Lewis sought to expand his musical horizons. His solo career took off in 2010, when Lewis made a name for himself with his debut album Moments. Last year Lewis released his latest album Days Of FreeMan, his bravest, yet most palpable artistic feat to date. On it, he was inspired by the hip hop of his youth, but also influenced by people like James Blood Ulmer and Ornette Coleman. The tenor saxophonist’s playing is penetrating, raw and very direct. He’s received accolades from mainstream cultural tastemakers such as Ebony Magazine, who hailed him as one of ‘7 young players to watch,’ and earned the respect of a diverse cross section of esteemed artists. Lewis is clearly a musician and improviser to keep an eye on in the future.
