JazzKLUB / Insane Imagination / James Brandon Lewis’ Red Lily Quintet - NOSPR

The 40-year-old saxophonist’s music is a bridge between the religious tradition of the Black South, the heritage of wonderful jazz tenors, and the fire of free jazz. It is not so much located in the borderlands of jazz classics and the so-called avant garde, as it is above the division, ever more artificial these days. The leader of the Red Lily Quintet managed to bring together musicians who think similarly to him, the very best in the generation of great synthesis. Lewis’ skills as a saxophonist go through the roof and his imagination is insane  – this much is well known. He is also characterised by charisma and a specific type of fervour that is sometimes described as “soulful”, “emotional” and “deep”, but none of the words alone could ever summarise the attitude. To see James Brandon Lewis playing live is an experience like none other. 

Tomasz Gregorczyk