Jazz Articles about Chad Taylor

About Chad Taylor

Album Review

James Brandon Lewis: For Mahalia With Love

Read "For Mahalia With Love" reviewed by Jerome Wilson

by Jerome Wilson
December 9, 2023

Tenor saxophonist James Brandon Lewis has been establishing himself in various contexts for the last few years, but his main focus lately has been on his Red Lily Quintet. Their first album, Jesup Wagon, (TAO Forms, 2021), was dedicated to African-American scientist, George Washington Carver. On their 2023 release, the group's music focuses on the work of the legendary gospel singer, Mahalia Jackson. This tribute takes the form of interpretations of familiar spirituals Jackson often sang. The gospel-derived ...

Album Review

James Brandon Lewis Red Lily Quintet: For Mahalia With Love

Read "For Mahalia With Love" reviewed by John Sharpe

by John Sharpe
November 29, 2023

The combination of James Brandon Lewis' impassioned tenor saxophone and songs associated with gospel singer and Civil Rights activist Mahalia Jackson is a match made in heaven. On For Mahalia, With Love by his Red Lily Quintet, Lewis retains the crack squad which made Jesup Wagon (Tao Forms, 2021) a success. Even though Lewis has a proven knack for crafting an affecting melody, he has chosen well as this repertoire has not only stood the test of time, but is ...

Album Review

Jaimie Branch: Fly Or Die Fly Or Die Fly Or Die ((World War))

Read "Fly Or Die Fly Or Die Fly Or Die ((World War))" reviewed by Chris May

by Chris May
October 8, 2023

As the malign forces of Amerikkka gather for their 2024 assault on truth, justice and democracy, an assault from which, if it is successful, there may be no peaceable reversal available four years down the line, the American jazz world should hang its head in shame. Denunciations of and opposition to the rise of domestic neo-fascism have been mostly confined to rock and hip hop. In jazz, with some noble exceptions, it has been business as usual. Now, in autumn ...

Album Review

Avram Fefer Quartet: Juba Lee

Read "Juba Lee" reviewed by Mark Corroto

by Mark Corroto
December 8, 2022

Avram Fefer comes out swinging on Juba Lee, the second release from his quartet,. It must have certainly been fated, as the opener “Showtime" hits hard with its muscular sound. Fefer's tenor saxophone blows out any existing cobwebs before handing off to guitarist Marc Ribot. The music continues the rich sound heard on the quartet's critically acclaimed previous release Testament (Clean Feed, 2019). Fefer built this sound first in trio with bassist Eric Revis, and drummer Chad Taylor heard the ...

Radio & Podcasts

Steve Tintweiss, Chad Taylor Trio & Dan Rosenboom

by Maurice Hogue
November 7, 2022

This episode touches on current releases from artists like Chad Taylor, Dan Rosenboom, English drummer Tom Skinner, French free jazz saxophonist Roland Devocelle, Swiss saxophonist Christoph Irniger with the Swiss Jazz Orchestra and Germany's AAAPUZ, but it also takes a look back to the earlier free jazz scene of the 70s in New York with music from bassist Steve Tintweiss. Playlist Aurora “Ghosts" from Aurora (Denon) 00:00 Aurora “Round Midnight" from Aurora (Denon) 06:33 Host speaks 11:49 Tom ...

Album Review

James Brandon Lewis Quartet: Molecular Systemic Music Live

Read "Molecular Systemic Music Live" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan

by Dan McClenaghan
September 21, 2022

With Molecular Systemic Music Live, saxophonist James Brandon Lewis and his quartet present the compositions of his 2020 album Molecular. The difference is that things are a good deal more stretched out. The music has gone from a single CD to a two CD package. With the extended tunes, the musicians—especially pianist Aruan Ortiz—get more opportunity to explore the permutations of the compositions, and the compositions have more fire, more searing energy. The music is freer. Opening with ...

Album Review

James Brandon Lewis Quartet: Code of Being

Read "Code of Being" reviewed by Troy Dostert

by Troy Dostert
October 27, 2021

With each new release, tenor saxophone phenom James Brandon Lewis seems to raise his game even higher. 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. 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 ...