THE WORLD'S BEST NEW MUSIC

Tenor saxophonist and composer James Brandon Lewis ranks as one of modern jazz's most vital, inventive voices. Recently named Downbeat Critics Poll Tenor Saxophonist of the Year and awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship, Lewis consistently delivers music of spiritual weight and technical brilliance. Alongside his elite Red Lily ensemble, featuring cornetist Kirk Knuffke, violist Melanie Dyer, cellist Tomeka Reid, bassist Joshua Abrams, and drummer Chad Taylor, he crafts conceptual masterworks that pay homage to historical icons, following previous acclaimed tributes to George Washington Carver Jesup Wagon (2021) and Mahalia Jackson For Mahalia, With Love (2023).

On Calling Antonín, James Brandon Lewis turns his extraordinary compositional lens toward Czech composer Antonín Dvořák, exploring the cross-cultural resonance between European romanticism and American folk traditions. Lewis' Red Lily band seamlessly fuses chamber-like strings with raw, fiery contemporary improvisation. Across nine stirring tracks, ranging from spiritual variations like "Spirit of the Living God" and "Going Home" to original gems like "Dilemma of Hearts", the group creates a soundscape rich in indelible melodies, celestial textures, and propulsive rhythms. 

The suite moves fluidly between structured 19th-century chamber melody and the uninhibited energy of modern avant-garde. The result is a majestic, deeply soulful triumph that celebrates artistic transcendence across centuries, musical genres and cultures.