Skip to main content
‘That moment where everything feels fine and other-worldly’
JAMES BRANDON LEWIS talks to Chris Searle about the the state he's seeking on his new album Molecular
James Brandon Lewis

JAMES BRANDON LEWIS is an inventive and freedom-seeking tenor saxophonist, whose surging patterns of sound resonate all through the new album Molecular he’s cut with his quartet.

From an early age, he became interested in all the jazz greats: “Parker, Coltrane, Rollins and Ornette -— I love the whole continuum,” he tells me, “I loved the emotion they provoked.

“If  the music connects, then the genre doesn’t matter. I loved my hometown saxophone heroes Grover Washington and Charles Gayle and I gravitated to Joshua Redman as he was extremely popular. I was curious to know who he was checking out, which led me to Gene Ammons and countless others.”

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
Similar stories
Mujician
Books / 3 June 2026
3 June 2026

CHRIS SEARLE recommends a work of love and deep admiration for a great musician

ahmed
Jazz Album Review / 20 May 2026
20 May 2026

CHRIS SEARLE recommends a new album featuring Pat Thomas and Ahmed, and marvels at the tempestuous power of a live performance

moholo
Appreciation / 9 July 2025
9 July 2025

CHRIS SEARLE pays tribute to the late South African percussionist, Louis Moholo-Moholo

themen
Interview / 18 June 2025
18 June 2025

CHRIS SEARLE speaks to saxophonist and retired NHS orthopaedic surgeon ART THEMEN