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James Brandon Lewis Trio to Release New Album “Apple Cores”

Jazz saxophonist James Brandon Lewis is set to unveil his latest project, an album titled Apple Cores, featuring the talents of drummer and mbira player Chad Taylor, along with bassist and guitarist Josh Werner. The album is scheduled for release on February 7, under the Anti- label. The initial offering from this collaboration is the track “Five Spots to Caravan,” which listeners can experience below.

The trio’s creative process involved two improvisational recording sessions. Lewis highlighted the importance of familiarity among band members, stating, “If you don’t spend time with your band, you’re not going to really trust that moment.” With over a decade of collaboration with Taylor and nearly six years with Werner, Lewis feels a deep musical kinship with both musicians, describing their dynamic as fluid and instinctive.

The artistic vision for Apple Cores draws inspiration from influential figures such as Amiri Baraka and Don Cherry. According to promotional materials, “Five Spots to Caravan” serves as a complex homage to Don Cherry’s innovative journey as a musician, reflecting on his artistic influences and travels.

In addition to this project, James Brandon Lewis has made significant contributions to the 2024 music landscape, being featured prominently on five different albums: Transfiguration, The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis, Gifts, Infinite Love Infinite Tears, and A New Day.

For those interested in exploring Lewis’s collaborative work, check out The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis’ track “The Time Is the Place,” recognized among “26 Contenders for the 2024 Song of the Summer.”

Apple Cores Track List:

01 Apple Cores #1
02 Prince Eugene
03 Five Spots to Caravan
04 Of Mind and Feeling
05 Apple Cores #2
06 Remember Brooklyn & Moki
07 Broken Shadows
08 D.C. Got Pockets
09 Apple Cores #3
10 Don’t Forget Jayne
11 Exactly, Our Music

Source
pitchfork.com