James Brandon

NYC WINTER JAZZFEST 2026 Reveals Initial Lineups for Manhattan and Brooklyn Marathons
by A.A. Cristi - Oct 24, 2025

The 22nd edition of NYC Winter Jazzfest will take place January 8–13, 2026, reaffirming the festival’s role as a global gathering for creative expression and community.

2026 NYC Winter Jazzfest Reveals Star-Studded Initial Lineup�¿  ​   
by Stephi Wild - Oct 2, 2025

This year's theme centers on the joy and beauty of gathering together while celebrating the tradition and future of Black American music—especially urgent during a time when external forces threaten to erase Black culture and history.

2025 JAZZTOPAD FESTIVAL Begins In NYC This Month
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 5, 2025

The paradigm-shifting Polish festival Jazztopad returns to New York City for its ninth edition from June 13–18, 2025, continuing its mission of building bridges between the most adventurous voices in contemporary improvised music.

James Brandon Lewis Shares 'Prince Eugene' Ahead of New Album 'Apple Cores'
by Josh Sharpe - Jan 9, 2025

From their forthcoming album, James Brandon Lewis Trio shares “Prince Eugene,” a hazy ballad that combines a dub-reggae bassline and drums with a Zimbabwean mbira as Lewis’ saxophone sings and guides us through the tune’s heavy yet minimal groove. Listen to it here.

David T. Little's BLACK LODGE to Have LA And NYC Premieres
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 1, 2024

David T. Little’s GRAMMY-nominated opera BLACK LODGE will launch a fall/winter tour with screenings in Sweden, a West Coast premiere in Los Angeles on October 19, and a live NYC premiere in January. Learn more!

Harlem Stage Reveals 2024-25 Season Lineup
by Stephi Wild - Sep 12, 2024

 Harlem Stage has announced its 2024-2025 Season of new works, reimagined works, a new vision, and beloved festivals and series in the inaugural season for new CEO & Artistic Director, Dr. Indira Etwaroo.

Marc Ribot to Embark on 'Songs of Resistance' Tour Feat. Shahzad Ismaily
by Josh Sharpe - Jul 24, 2024

This fall, Ribot will perform his album ‘Songs of Resistance’ in duo with multi-instrumentalist Shahzad Ismaily in select markets with radical rearrangements of the songs plus new material, improvisation and whatever else reaps urgency.

2024 NYC Winter Jazzfest Announces Final Lineup For 20th Anniversary Season
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 6, 2024

NYC Winter Jazzfest has announced the complete list of artists to be featured at the 20th annual NYC Winter Jazzfest! Please mark your calendars for January 10-18, 2024.

Latiné Musical Theatre Lab to Present NEW MUSICALS MIXTAPE Featuring Songs From Six Work-in-Progress Musicals
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 15, 2023

Latiné Musical Theatre Lab and Prospect Theater Company have partnered to present New Musicals Mixtape, a first look at new musicals written by members of the Latiné Musical Theatre Lab’s Julia de Burgos Cohort.

2024 NYC WINTER JAZZFEST Celebrates 20 Seasons With the Full Spectrum of Jazz, January 10-18
by A.A. Cristi - Oct 20, 2023

NYC Winter Jazzfest has announced the initial list of artists to be featured at the 20th annual NYC Winter Jazzfest! Please mark your calendars for January 10-18, 2024.

Free Jazz Concert Comes to NP10 Governors Island This Month
by Stephi Wild - Aug 17, 2023

Arts for Art has announced a new partnership with the West Harlem Art Fund to present In Gardens at Governors Island. In Gardens at Governors Island will feature two afternoons of FreeJazz performances, Melanie Dyer's Siren Xypher on August 26th and Alexis Marcelo Trio on August 27th.

Buddies in Bad Times Theatre to Celebrate 45th Anniversary Season with Exciting Lineup
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 1, 2023

Get the scoop on Buddies in Bad Times Theatre's highly anticipated 45th anniversary season, featuring a vibrant lineup of LGBTQ+ theatre productions and events. From groundbreaking performances to thought-provoking stories, this season promises to captivate audiences. Book your tickets now and be part of the celebration!

Marc Ribot's Ceramic Dog Sets West Coast Tour Ahead of New Album Out This Friday
by Michael Major - Jul 11, 2023

Marc Ribot’s Ceramic Dog – the visionary post-fusion rock trio comprising guitarist/songwriter/activist Marc Ribot, bassist Shahzad Ismaily, and drummer/percussionist Ches Smith – have announced plans for a West Coast co-headline tour alongside groundbreaking jazz quartet The Bad Plus.

High Pulp Share 'Unified Dakotas' Feat. Jeff Parker of Tortoise
by Michael Major - Jun 27, 2023

The song “Unified Dakotas” aligns High Pulp with the kind of adventurous music that defined the alternative ‘90s, a mix of post-rock guitars, head-nodding drums, bright horns, and electronics. It made perfect sense to reach out to Jeff Parker of Tortoise and have his guitar ring through the song as it transforms from shimmering jazz-funk.

Marc Ribot's Ceramic Dog Announces New Album & Releases First Song
by Michael Major - May 22, 2023

Connection sees Ceramic Dog fully entrenched in their signature approach to improvised music, augmented by contributions by such special guests as singer-songwriter Syd Straw, keyboardist Anthony Coleman, saxophonist James Brandon Lewis, organist Greg Lewis, clarinetist Oscar Noriega, and cellist Peter Sachon.

JAZZTOPAD FESTIVAL NYC Returns For 7th Edition, June 23-28
by A.A. Cristi - May 18, 2023

The 2023 US edition of Jazztopad, from June 23-30, will feature a series of commissions from the acclaimed Lutosławski Quartet in collaboration with jazz piano luminaries Craig Taborn and Uri Caine, EMMY-winning composer Don Davis and sought-after bassist and composer Michael Bates. Iraqi-American trumpeter and composer Amir ElSaffar will also perform on opening night in a return Jazztopad engagement.

First Single From David T. Little's BLACK LODGE 'My Childhood' Out Now
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 5, 2023

'My Childhood,' the first single from composer David T. Little's modern opera Black Lodge, is available now from Cantaloupe Music on all digital services.

Newport Jazz Festival Announces 2023 Lineup
by Michael Major - Mar 22, 2023

The lineup also includes bounce legend Big Freedia, musical polyglots Thundercat, DJ Pee .Wee (aka Anderson .Paak), Big Gigantic and Alfa Mist, as well as songwriters Cautious Clay, Durand Jones and The War & Treaty. Special ensembles include Newport Jazz artistic director Christian McBride’s annual Jam Jawn, MoodSwing, Scary Goldings, and more.

James Brandon Lewis Releases New Album 'Eye of I' This Friday
by Michael Major - Jan 30, 2023

This music swaps out the extra-musical research and cerebral high concepts of his critically acclaimed ‘Jesup Wagon’ and the aesthetic manifestos of ‘An Unruly Manifesto’ for a lean power trio of tenor sax, cello and drums that reaches for singable melodies and a simple punk-band-in-the-basement credo: Chasing energy.

James Brandon Lewis Conjures Celestial Spirits On 'Send Seraphic Beings'
by Michael Major - Jan 10, 2023

Described as “an artist with so much fire in his sound,” by renowned jazz journalist Nate Chinen, James Brandon Lewis is sharing “Send Seraphic Beings,' the final pre-release track from his upcoming album ‘Eye of I.' Filmed live in studio, listen to the moving track and watch Lewis perform the song – also featuring electric cello and drums