Saxophonist James Brandon Lewis teamed up with Fugazi offshoot The Messthetics for one of last year’s best jazz albums, and now he’s gearing up to release a James Brandon Lewis Trio (with Chad Taylor on drums/mbira and Josh Werner on bass/guitar) album, Apple Cores, on February 7 via ANTI- (pre-order). Here’s some background, via press release:
The album takes its name and intention from the column that poet and jazz theorist Amiri Baraka wrote for DownBeat in the 1960s. “I was first exposed to Amiri Baraka at Howard University [also Baraka’s alma mater],” says Lewis. “Blues People [Baraka’s groundbreaking 1963 study of Black American music], was required reading. I’m always in constant dialogue with his work.”
In addition to Baraka, the influence of another jazz giant looms mightily over Apple Cores: trumpeter and multi-instrumentalist, Don Cherry. In a testament to Cherry’s influence over the music that the trio is playing, Lewis designed each song title as a cryptogram of sorts, making subtle references to Cherry’s life and music.
“The record itself is a nod to Amiri but mainly a nod to Don Cherry, using Amiri as a branch to really get the conversation going,” Lewis explains. “It’s not a tribute in the sense that we’re playing Don Cherry compositions, but that the music is commenting on his musical curiosity.”
The trio just released the album’s new single “Prince Eugene,” which pairs James’ soaring sax lines and Chad’s shimmering mbira with a dub-reggae-infused groove. It follows the skronky lead single “Five Spots to Caravan,” whose title is a reference to NYC’s famed jazz club Five Spot Café, and you can check out both singles below.
James Brandon Lewis and The Messthetics play a Ridgewood, Queens show on February 4 at TV Eye with Zwei Null Zwei before heading out on a UK/Ireland tour, and then James Brandon Lewis Trio will play a Brooklyn release show for the new album on March 6 at Public Records, following an international Trio tour. All dates are listed below.
James Brandon Lewis — 2025 Tour Dates
James Brandon Lewis and The Messthetics:
February 4 – Ridgewood, NY @ TV Eye
February 7 – Dublin, Ireland @ Grand Social
February 8 – Belfast, United Kingdom @ The Black Box
February 10 – Glasgow, United Kingdom @ Nice N Sleazy
February 11 – Manchester, United Kingdom @ Yes
February 12 – Birmingham, United Kingdom @ The Hare And Hounds
February 13 – Nottingham, United Kingdom @ Boat Club
February 14 – Bristol, United Kingdom @ The Lantern
February 15 – Lewes, United Kingdom @ Lewes Con Club
February 16 – London, United Kingdom @ 100 Club
James Brandon Lewis Trio:
March 3 – Los Angeles, CA @ Zebulon
March 6 – Brooklyn, NY @ Public Records
March 7 – Chicago, IL @ Constellation
April 26 – Paris, France @ Maison de la Radio Studio 104
April 27 – Cologne, Germany @ Stadtgarten
April 28 – Brno, Czech Republic @ Cabare des Peches
April 29 – Vienna, Austria @ Porgy & Bess
April 30 – San Sebastian, Spain @ Victoria Eugenia Club
May 2 – Barcelona, Spain @ El Molino
May 3 – London, UK @ Vortex
May 7 – Tilburg, Netherlands @ Paradox
May 8 – Liege, Belgium @ Jazz A Liege Festival