For Mahalia, With Love (Expanded Version)

Following the acclaim of 2022s Jesup Wagon, celebrating the life and work of George Washington Carver, saxophonist and composer James Brandon Lewis reunites his Red Lily Quintet on For Mahalia, With Love. It showcases songs associated with gospel singer and Civil Right activist Mahalia Jackson. The Red Lily Quintet -- with William Parker on bass; Kirk Knuffke on cornet; Chad Taylor on drums, and Chris Hoffman on cello -- follow the singer through her music and his own evolutionary background in the church. He translates them into emotionally resonant, disciplined, 21st century spiritual jazz. Most of these public domain tunes are gospel standards. "Sparrow," is a medley of Charlie Gabriels and Civilla D. Martins "His Eye Is on the Sparrow" and Lewis "Even the Sparrow." Commencing with a droning arco bass, cornet, and saxophone, the processional cadence opens for rolling drums and lithe cello. They balance prayerful solemnity with resolve and commitment to the simple yet powerful melody. Lewis introduces "Swing Low (Sweet Chariot)" with a solo that bridges the lyric melody and improvisation. The band enters at two minutes, jumbling hand-plucked bass, cello, and clattering tom-toms. Knuffke joins the saxophonist and moves it further afield. At almost ten minutes, "Go Down Moses" is the sets longest track. Its arrangement is equally inspired by swinging post-bop, Latin-tinged blues, and NOLA R&B. Knuffkes expressive solo is appended by Lewis joining him in conversation as the rhythm section plays an ever-widening circular vamp. The role of cello, bass, and cornet on "Calvary" serves to balance grief, loss, and anger with hope amid droning swirls of sound. The duet between Parker and Hoffman is nearly mind-blowing in lyric and modal exposition. The frontline melody and harmony in "Deep River" loosely recall Albert Ayler with Don Cherry. Brass and reeds dig under the mode and explore freely as Taylor and Parker dynamically prod them on, and Hoffman paints an unruly textural backdrop. Depth and dimension rule the turbulent group improv in "Were You There" before the album closes on a tender, reverent read of "Precious Lord," wherein in each player -- save for the frenetic Taylor -- engages in harmonic blues conversation. Here, the Red Lily Quintet underscores Jacksons import as a visionary and prophet. The approach to her music combines those qualities of the historic past with the power and drama of contemporary life with all its victories and struggles. [First edition copies of the CD include a bonus disc titled These Are Soulful Days, recorded in collaboration with the Lutoslawski String Quartet at Jazztopad Festival in Wrocław, Poland. It is also included as a digital download with the first edition LP, but not available separately. The seven-movement suite (and a gritty, blue solo saxophone encore of the spiritual "Take Me to the Water" is a tender, deeply reflective, consideration of American gospelized soul jazz from the 20th century.] ~ Thom Jurek