By Don Phipps

One would possibly assume that tenor saxophonist and composer James Brandon Lewis
would want to recharge his musical batteries. After all, his albums Eye of I and For Mahalia, With Love topped many critics better of 2023 jazz
lists. However Transfiguration most definitely will add to his accolades. The
album is a turbulent sea of feelings introduced forth by Lewis’s compositional
dexterity and the superb virtuosity of each he and his bandmates, Aruán
Ortiz on piano, Brad Jones on bass, and Chad Taylor on drums.

Whereas at instances feverish, Lewis’s sax enjoying is at all times tuneful and full
throated. His energetic and highly effective solos, improvisations and developments
by no means stop to captivate the listener. And one should merely marvel at his
compositional ability. Take the opening quantity, “Transfiguration.” There’s an
nearly Latin taste to the composition – one that’s menacing, darkish and
highly effective. On “Trinity of Inventive Self,” the strains methodically climb to
increased and better depth. “Swerve” is an summary funk. “Per 6”
generates the sensation of a automobile cruising at pace round curves. “Black
Apollo” makes use of a robotic line in an odd time meter to create a darkish
foreboding. “Empirical Notion” looks like using in a careening subway
automobile – being pushed and pulled because it makes its means by darkish tunnels.
“Triptych” gives a driving syncopation. And final however not least, “Elan
Very important” offers the feeling of dawn in a forest of tall bushes – the sunshine
exploding in all places in lengthy effervescent streams.

After all, all of this emotional depth is significantly aided by the
excellent efforts of his sidemen and the moments the place they step ahead
and create their very own distinctive contributions. For instance, Ortiz gives up
modal bluesy abstractions on “Triptych” and “Per 6” that have distant
echoes of McCoy Tyner, and his intelligent fingerings all through the album
command consideration. Jones gives stable bass strains, and his work on “Per 6”
is particularly noteworthy – with dynamic and difficult higher register bass
plucks that explode like fireworks. And Taylor’s rim photographs, cymbal work,
and drumming by no means fail to emphasise the musical themes or funky bluesy
strains of the varied compositions. There are even instances when one can hear
the affect of Ed Blackwell’s West African drumming model in his enjoying.

All of this may occasionally result in questions like “Is Lewis the brand new Coltrane?” or “Is
this what Coltrane would sound like if he had been in jazz in the present day?” However such
questions will be rapidly dismissed. Lewis is a pressure in jazz that have to be
appreciated within the right here and now. And one must be grateful and joyful to be
alive to listen to it!