James Brandon Lewis is on the top of the international jazz world. With a powerful, direct and rich tenor saxophone sound and a lyrical quality that unfolds in both his solos and his compositions, he is creating a sensation – most effectively with his quartet. А 42-year old Brandon Lewis works constantly and consistently builds his reputation as a musician who, with fearless intensity, coordinates multiple projects at once. Whether it's The Messthetics, his Jesup Wagon Band, or the Red Lily Quintet, Lewis simply does not stop. He is coming to Skopje with the quartet that recently released “Abstraction is Deliverance“; on Intakt Records. This is his fifth album in this formation, and the consensus of the critics is that while the long shadow of tradition is ever-present, it does not cover the band's innovative capacity. These exceptional musicians, each with a character of their own, create an urgent ensemble sound, moving through a broad palette of sound colors. Modern, yet deeply rooted in the spiritual and improvisational essence of jazz, Lewis in this release irresistibly hints at the influence and the respect for the titans of the instrument - John Coltrane and Sonny Rollins. However, this quartet does not mimic the past. Instead, they use it to illuminate their path, sparing neither intellect nor emotion during the process. It’s no coincidence that The New York Times described him as “a saxophonist who embodies and transcends tradition“. This year the Downbeat Critics Poll named James Brandon Lewis Artist of the Year and Tenor saxophonist of the Year.