![]() ![]() But for the most part he's quite content to pace himself here, opening up the complexities of each piece in a deliberate, patient vein. When he's fully locked in, Lewis can breathe fire as well as any of the most demonstrative tenor saxophonists, as an encounter with the incendiary first half of "Where is Hella" reveals. Ortiz is no less inspired, with a feisty, percussive solo that draws energy from the mighty rhythm tandem of Jones and Taylor. Lewis' way with a melody is evident from the opener, "Resonance" onward: a poignant tune undergirds what becomes a fierce pathway of exploration, with Lewis developing a tenacious grip on the piece as it unfolds, becoming increasingly animated and loquacious as he teases out phrase after phrase, seemingly without limit, but without ever leaving the theme of the tune completely behind. Lewis is quite fond of mathematical and scientific devices as inspiration for his pieces on the previous record he explained this with a somewhat esoteric theory involving what he called "molecular systematic music." But fortunately for the listener, there are a lot of ways to access the beauty of Lewis' art succumbing to its emotional pull is perhaps the best. The band's latest, Code of Being, is another superlative effort, with well over an hour's worth of expertly played music. It doesn't hurt that he has colleagues of the first rank, with pianist Aruán Ortiz, bassist Brad Jones and drummer Chad Taylor part of his core quartet, the group that gave us its debut with 2020's masterful Molecular (Intakt). He continues to craft ever more compelling compositions, with both lyrical intensity and conceptual rigor, and his sound on the tenor is just as noteworthy, mixing brawn with sensitivity in equal measure. With each new release, tenor saxophone phenom James Brandon Lewis seems to raise his game even higher. ![]()
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