James Brandon Lewis (b.1983 Buffalo NY ) is a critically acclaimed saxophonist, composer, recording artist and educator. Lewis has received accolades from New York Times, Q Magazine and cultural tastemakers such as Ebony Magazine, who hailed him as one of the "7 Young Players to Watch" in todays scene. Lewis has shared stages with Ken Filiano, Darius Jones, Jason Hwang, William Parker, Hamiet Bluiett, Hamid Drake, Ravi Coltrane, Jimmy Heath, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Joe Lovano, Dave Douglas, Marc Ribot, Anthony Coleman, and many others. James Brandon Lewis has been endorsed by jazz legend saxophonist Sonny Rollins: "Promising young player with the potential to do great things having listened to the Elders" — Jazz Magazine (France). The New York Times had this to say about Lewis: "James Brandon Lewis, a jazz saxophonist in his 30's, raw toned but measured, doesn't sound steeped in current jazz academy values … there's an Independence about him." James Brandon Lewis leads numerous ensembles and is the co-founder of Poetry Music Ensemble Heroes Are Gang Leaders. Lewis attended Howard University and holds an MFA from California Institute of the Arts.
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