Interview: NYC-based James Brandon Lewis Trio premieres “Bittersweet”

Internationally renowned jazz saxophonist James Brandon Lewis made waves back in mid-2015 with his last critically acclaimed album, Days of FreeMan. Now he’s back with a trio including Luke Stewart (bass) and Warren Trae Crudup III (drums) with a fiery new LP, No Filter.

Groundsounds caught up with Lewis ahead of the release of No Filter to learn more about the album. Stream album cut “Bittersweet” and read our interview below. No Filter is out today and you can order it here.

Hi, James Brandon Lewis! Congrats on No Filter. How did you come to meet and pull together everyone that performs on the album?

Thank you so much, and thanks for the interview! Everyone involved in this project are friends as well as amazing artists. I have been working with my trio for about two years. I met Luke Stewart on Bass and Warren Trae Crudup III on drums in New York City.

The guest artists featured on “No Filter” I met at different times of my life. Vocalist Nicholas Ryan Gant I met while attending Howard University, we were also in a band together, and rapper P.SO the Earth Tone King and I grew up together in Buffalo NY.

What was the recording process like? Did you record the album mostly live?

Shout out to Strange Weather Studios & Daniel James Schlett who recorded the album and did an amazing job, and Desert Park Studios & Boone McElroy who mixed and mastered. The album was recorded in one room together as opposed to each musician being isolated in their own booth. That non-separation did create a live feel and the musicians were able to vibe off each other more given the proximity.

No Filter is rooted in a jazz-fusion style but everyone is bringing a raw power/energy on every note. Did you know going in that the hard-hitting style was something you wanted to go for or is that just the natural chemistry of the players involved.

I would say that No Filter is quite a fusion of multiple genres of free jazz, mixed in with some hip-hop and rock. Raw and power was the goal, no rest, only the immediacy of now, like a fire shot up in my bones #firebreathers.

Sorry, that’s just a little saying I say often, but yes the goal is No Filter; raw and gritty no cuts or edits as is with lots of intention. The chemistry is natural at this stage of us working together for the last few years and will only get better.

What are some of the larger themes at play on the album? I figure with titles like “Y’all Slept” and No Filter you’re trying to say something to somebody.

I try to make music that of course takes the listener to different places via the music and the titles. It’s not to one particular person, but of course a statement speaking to perseverance, being driven to be yourself, uncut, real and with no compromise.

No Filter is as is; high energy in your face music with no let up until the end of the album where a soft ballad enters, “Bittersweet,” which is calling for calmness and a peace of acceptance that nobody is changing but that one can relate to the full dynamic of human expression.

How much does living in New York influence you? Do you draw inspiration from your surroundings?

I definitely draw inspiration for music from the city. I would be lying if I said I did not. So many things about this city that are just in your face and non-stop; traffic, the pace of everyone traveling to their destination via subways, taxi, etc. The city is on the move and alive from sunrise to sunset. “You can feel the city breathing.” Thanks Mos Def for the quote.

What does the future look like for the trio? Do you think you’ll get in the studio again or maybe expand the ensemble?

Next for the trio, well we have some dates coming up around the album release; October 30th at Rockwood Music Hall and then we travel some with dates in Washington DC, NYC, then France playing Sons d’hiver Festival in January, and a pretty extensive tour in March traveling to Italy and Netherlands. Summer should be quite busy. As far as expanding I look forward to working more with amazing DC-based guitarist Anthony Pirog.

Any new artists/pieces of art you’ve been especially struck by recently?

I dig Chance the Rapper, Anderson Paak and Kora Player Sona Jabarteh, and, of course, I check out whatever is happening in the Jazz and Creative Music scene. I truly love all music you can draw inspiration from anything if it’s coming from a sincere place.

Where/when can we find No Filter?

No Filter comes out October 28th via BNS sessions and will be available on all major digitally outlets such iTunes, Amazon.com etc.