Marc Ribot Trio / James Brandon Lewis / Red Lily Quintet

Reflektor Marc Ribot

James Brandon Lewis
James Brandon Lewis © Selmer
Marc Ribot
Marc Ribot © Eric van den Brulle

Spiritual unity

The Marc Ribot Trio celebrated a premiere in a new line-up at the famous NYC Winter Jazzfest in 2024 – now they come as a trio to Hamburg for the »Reflektor« Festival dedicated to Ribot. The trio first played together in 2005 on the album »Spiritual Unity«, a homage to the legendary free jazz saxophonist Albert Ayler. Alongside Marc Ribot and drummer Chad Taylor as consistent members of the trio, at that time Henry Grimes still played on bass. He worked with Cecil Tayler, Don Cherry and Albert Ayler, amongst others, in the 1960s. In the current line-up, Hilliard Greene replaces Henry Grimes, who passed away in 2020, on double bass. The second solo artist, besides Marc Ribot, is James Brandon Lewis, whose Gospel-influenced sound on tenor saxophone seamlessly blends into the eruptive sound of the trio.

James Brandon Lewis, as bandleader of the Red Lily Quartet, also takes centre stage in the second set of the evening. The programme »For Mahalia, with Love« is a tribute to the Gospel legend Mahalia Jackson, who made famous traditional songs, such as »Swing Low«, »Sparrow« and »Wade in the Water«. Lewis has a personal, emotional connection to the work of Mahalia Jackson: his grandmother had introduced the music to him when he was just a child. So, he also describes his arrangements as a »Three-way conversation between Mahalia, my grandmother and me.«

Performers

Marc Ribot Trio

Marc Ribot guitar
Hilliard Greene bass
Chad Taylor drums

Red Lily Quintet

James Brandon Lewis saxophone
Kirk Knuffke trumpet
Tomeka Reid violoncello
Silvia Bolognesi bass
Chad Taylor drums

Programme

Set 1: Marc Ribot Trio and James Brandon Lewis
Set 2: Red Lily Quintet »For Mahalia, with Love«

Series

Jazz at the Elbphilharmonie

Festival

Reflektor Marc Ribot

Promoter: HamburgMusik

Supported by Stiftung Elbphilharmonie

During your visit

Elbphilharmonie Plaza

A public viewing platform on the 8th floor of the Elbphilharmonie

More about the Plaza

Food and Drink

Before the concert and in the interval

Find out more

Coughing, clapping, chatting

Tips for your concert visit

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