Messthetics w/ James Brandon Lewis

Biography

James Brandon Lewis, born on August 13, 1983, in Buffalo, New York, was raised in the church and attended the Buffalo Academy for the Visual and Performing Arts. He continued his studies at Howard University, graduating in 2006, where he worked with influential jazz figures including Geri Allen, Benny Golson, Bill Pierce, and Wallace Roney, initially focusing on gospel music. Lewis earned his MFA in 2010 from the California Institute of the Arts, studying the work of music theorist Joseph Schillinger, before relocating to New York City in 2012 and transitioning to jazz, releasing his debut album Divine Travels in 2014.[2][1][4][6]

Lewis has developed a distinctive musical style blending gospel-informed spirituality, free-jazz abandon, hard-hitting funk, hip-hop rhythms, and post-harmolodic elements, earning praise from The New York Times as a saxophonist who 'embodies and transcends tradition' and from Sonny Rollins as a promising talent. He has released critically acclaimed albums like Molecular (2020), Jesup Wagon (2021), and Apple Cores with his trio, while leading ensembles such as the James Brandon Lewis Quartet and Red Lily Quintet. Voted Rising Star Tenor Saxophonist by Downbeat in 2020 and top Tenor Saxophonist by Jazz Times in 2021, he received the inaugural PhD Fellowship in Creativity from the University of the Arts with Questlove and tours internationally.[1][3][5][7]

As a co-founder of the American Book Award-winning Ensemble Heroes Are Gang Leaders, Lewis continues to innovate through concepts like Molecular Systematic Music, which maps a musician's 'musical DNA' for composition and improvisation. His collaborations, including the 2024 album The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis with the experimental jazz-punk trio The Messthetics, underscore his legacy as a boundary-pushing force in contemporary jazz.[3][7]

Fun Facts

• James Brandon Lewis was named the inaugural recipient of the PhD Fellowship in Creativity by the University of the Arts in collaboration with Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson.
• He co-founded the American Book Award-winning Ensemble Heroes Are Gang Leaders.
• Lewis developed 'Molecular Systematic Music,' a method to chart a musician's 'musical DNA' from past experiences for composition and improvisation, explained in a 2020 essay.
• Described by Sonny Rollins as a 'promising young talent having listened to the elders.'

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Geri Allen - Instructor at Howard University (Studies during undergraduate years) [early 2000s]
• Benny Golson - Instructor at Howard University (Studies during undergraduate years) [early 2000s]
• Bill Pierce - Instructor at Howard University (Studies during undergraduate years) [early 2000s]
• Wallace Roney - Instructor at Howard University (Studies during undergraduate years) [early 2000s]
• Joseph Schillinger - Music theorist studied during MFA (Graduate training at CalArts) [2006-2010]

Key Collaborators

• Anthony Pirog - Guitarist in The Messthetics and prior groups (The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis (2024), earlier trio/quintet) [2020s]
• Joe Lally - Bassist in The Messthetics (ex-Fugazi) (The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis (2024)) [2024]
• Brendan Canty - Drummer in The Messthetics (ex-Fugazi) (The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis (2024)) [2024]
• Chad Taylor - Drummer in trio and quartet (Apple Cores (trio), Red Lily Quintet albums) [2020s]
• Luke Stewart - Bassist in prior trio (Pre-2020 trio recordings) [pre-2020]
• Warren Trae Crudup III - Drummer in prior trio (Pre-2020 trio recordings) [pre-2020]
• Jaimie Branch - Trumpeter in expanded group (Pre-quartet collaborations) [pre-2020]
• Kirk Knuffke - Cornet player in Red Lily Quintet (Two Red Lily Quintet albums) [2020s]
• Chris Hoffman - Cellist in Red Lily Quintet (Two Red Lily Quintet albums) [2020s]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia