Buffalo-born, NYC-based tenor saxophonist James Brandon Lewis is traditional in the best sense. Like the pioneers on his instrument since jazz’s inception, at every stage of the music’s evolution, Lewis assimilates the entire history of his instrument while forging his own voice through attention to contemporary and popular music developments. The result is a deeply and satisfyingly soulful combination of extrovert expressiveness and a funk sensibility, and as far out as Lewis’s playing can veer, it never loses the dance impetus that is at its core. This quality is underpinned and animated by two outstanding musicians who round out Lewis’s trio, drummer Max Jaffe and electric cellist Christopher Hoffman.
Saturday 17 September, 8pm, Market Square, free
James Brandon Lewis website
Max Jaffe website
Christopher Hoffman website