Record Reviews

JAMES BRANDON LEWIS ~ DIVINE TRAVELS OKEH 888837666428 (Barcode: 888837666428) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 2011 Released: 2014 This is the second album by young US saxophonist James Brandon LewisFind albums by this artist, recorded in a trio format with two veteran Free Jazz / Improvised Music activists: bassist William ParkerFind albums by this artist and drummer Gerald CleaverFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten original pieces, all credited the trio members. Two of the pieces include lyrics written by American poet Thomas Sayers EllisFind albums by this artist and recited by him. The music is a typical free form session with spontaneous improvisation being the focus of this date. It is difficult to guess how much of this music was preconceived or rehearsed in advance, but it seems as if not everything is left to spontaneity here. There are some short melody lines stated at the start of most of the pieces, but those are soon abandoned in favor of improvised sections, which don´t really have a clear purpose, sense of direction or emotional expression. Parker and Cleaver are of course recognized as some of the improvised scene leaders, but Lewis still has a long way to go. His improvisations are somewhat restricted in scope, tend to sound repetitious and display a very limited emotional range. As a result it is difficult for him to carry the weight of a whole album as the focal soloist. There is no "fire" and no "ice" in this music, just a lot of notes that manage to tingle the perception but fail to sink in. The attempt to create a Jazz & Poetry episode also remains rather unimposing, as it is only a "sidekick" and the music and words fails to create a bond that makes them something more that just word and notes uttered simultaneously. The only positive aspect of this album is the fact that it was released on the revitalized OkehFind albums on this label label, which is a subsidiary of SonyFind albums on this label Music. When I see a Free Jazz album released by a Major record label, this is a feast indeed. Hopefully Lewis will do better next time, as this is rather unimpressive.

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