James Brandon Lewis and Chad Taylor

Chad Taylor and James Brandon Lewis photo courtesy of the artists

Saturday, February 26
8:00pm PST
Chapel Performance Space, 4th Floor
In-person* 
Sliding Scale $10, 15 & 20

Powerful, tenor saxophonist James Brandon Lewis, last appeared with Earshot in the 2018 festival. Known for his many talents that span musicianship, composing, and writing, he’s noted as “a saxophonist who embodies and transcends tradition.” (The New York Times). His style melds many traditions including gospel, free jazz, funk, and hip-hop. His soaring notoriety rests on the back of his many acclaimed albums which include: An Unruly Manifesto, Jesup Wagon, and Molecular as well as DownBeat’s 2020 Rising Star Tenor Saxophonist accolade.

For his upcoming performance Lewis, will be joined by his long-time collaborator—drummer Chad Taylor. Hailing from Chicago, but now based in Philadelphia, Chad Taylor is known as a co-founder of the Chicago Underground Duo with trumpeter Rob Mazurek. Lauded for his creativity and sharp improvisational instincts, Taylor has played with Fred Anderson, Pharoah Sanders, Marc Ribot, Malachi Favors, Jaimie Branch, and Nicole Mitchel, among others.

Lewis and Taylor have appeared on many albums together, the latest being the 2021 album Code of Being. Pirmin Bossart writes about the duo in an earlier album, Live in Willisau—“the two musicians let us hear the great breath of an essential jazz tradition, its clarity, raw beauty and urgency shining through.”

Tickets: $10-20, sliding scale, in-person* tickets. Seats at The Chapel are first come first serve.

*COVID-19 Policy: For all in-person events, proof of COVID-19 vaccination with current ID required. Earshot Jazz will no longer accept negative tests for entry. Masks required indoors. Full policy here.