James Brandon Lewis has received the highest praise from his role model Sonny Rollins, and is a serious candidate for the tenor saxophone hall of fame. Albert Ayler’s spirituality and John Coltrane’s cosmic aspirations have inspired him, but the New York-based saxophonist mainly stays grounded in the present. This year he remains active in several formations at the same time. His trio already released the album Apple Cores and now his quartet presents a collection of ballads under the title Abstraction Is Deliverance, on Intakt Records.

The James Brandon Lewis Quartet features star players such as Aruán Ortiz, the Cuban-born pianist who played here in various formations. Double bassist Brad Jones made name in New York performing with Ornette Coleman, John Zorn and Marc Ribot, and collaborating with stars such as David Byrne and Elvis Costello. Drummer Chad Taylor is known from Chicago Underground Duo and has performed with Lewis as a duo at our fiftieth anniversary concert. The quartet has previously released the studio album Code of Being and the live album Molecular Systematic Music Live, which has received a top rating of five stars in Downbeat.

James Brandon Lewis tenor sax, Aruán Ortiz piano, Brad Jones bass, Chad Taylor drums