James Brandon Lewis Trio (James Brandon Lewis / Chad Taylor / Josh Werner)

James Brandon Lewis Trio

James Brandon Lewis is one of the modern titans of the tenor.  He’s received accolades from mainstream cultural tastemakers such as Ebony Magazine who hailed him as one of “7 Young Players to Watch,” and earned the respect of a diverse cross section of esteemed artists.

James Brandon Lewis is a critically acclaimed saxophonist and composer.  He has received accolades from NPR, ASCAP Foundation, MacDowell, and The Robert Rauschenberg Foundation.  The New York Times described Lewis as “a saxophonist who embodies and transcends tradition.”  He has released several critically acclaimed albums, most recently, 2021’s highly touted Jesup Wagon and tours internationally leading several ensembles and is a member and co-founder of American Book Award winning jazz and poetry ensemble Heroes Are Gang Leaders.  James was recently named top Tenor Saxophonist and Artist of the Year by Downbeat magazine’s 2025 International Critics poll.  Lewis attended Howard University, received his M.F.A. from California Institute of the Arts and earned his Ph.D. in Creativity from Rowan University.  He was the inaugural recipient of the Ph.D. Fellowship in Creativity in collaboration with The Balvenie and drummer and Academy Award-Winning Director Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson.

Apple Cores is the latest full-length album from New York tenor saxophonist James Brandon Lewis, “one of the fiercest sounds in jazz today” (The Guardian) with a “penchant for unbound exploration” (Pitchfork).  Informed by the rhythms and textures of hip-hop and funk while remaining rooted in jazz, James Brandon Lewis Trio’s Apple Cores was recorded with Chad Taylor (drums/mbira) and Josh Werner (bass/guitar).  The recording was a collective compositional process that happened over the course of two intense, entirely improvised sessions.