James Brandon Lewis Quartet

In the organizer's words:

This tenacity and creative drive, this will to discover new territory, this spiritual depth that surrounds and drives James Brandon Lewis... the essence of the Brooklyn-based musician from Buffalo, New York, is having an ever greater impact: he was voted Artist of the Year in this year's Down Beat Critics Poll and also won the tenor saxophone category. He beat legends in their field. Now JBL, as he is sometimes called for the sake of simplicity, is coming to the Unterfahrt with his current all-star quartet.

Together with pianist Aruán Ortiz, bassist Brad Jones and drummer Chad Taylor, James Brandon Lewis cultivates a primal nature that takes your breath away. What this foursome plays is rough and edgy, full of fervor and soulfulness. But there is also a hint of vulnerability and touching tenderness in lyrical passages - as can be heard on the album Abstraction is Deliverance (for which star author Teju Cole wrote the liner notes).

Cast:

James Brandon Lewis (ts)

Aruan Ortiz (p)

Brad Jones (b)

Chad Taylor (dr)