Lineup: James Brandon Lewis tenor saxophone, Kirk Knuffke cornet, Tomeka Reid cello, Silvia Bolognesi bass, Lily Finnegan drums

For tenor saxophonist James Brandon Lewis, who grew up in a church environment, gospel music is a fundamental part of his musical work.
His program "For Mahalia, with Love" is a tribute to the legendary gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, who made traditional songs such as "Swing Low", "Sparrow" and "Wade In The Water" world-famous. For James Brandon Lewis, Jackson's work is of deep personal significance: he was introduced to her music by his grandmother as a child. Lewis therefore describes his musical reinterpretations as a kind of "dialog between Mahalia, my grandmother and myself".

Mahalia Jackson's musical message was not limited to church Sundays; many generations used her messages to guide their daily lives. Lewis approaches these pieces with the deep intimacy of someone who grew up in this tradition, but also as a jazz musician who sees abstraction and reinterpretation as central components of his art.