By Esther Callens
Saxophonist and composer Chad Lefkowitz-Brown’s debut recording is now in retail. Imagery Manifesto is the title of this 10 track collection. Featuring all original compositions, Imagery Manifesto confirms that Chad Lefkowitz-Brown is destined to be among jazz’s great artists.
The album opens with “A Turbulent Drift.” This is an amazing track as it begins with somber notes that quickly transforms to a peppered crescendo only to revert and start the process over. “Manic Panic” is a mid tempo number where Lefkowitz-Brown reveals his rapid sax improv skills on to close out. “Tooth And Fang Intro” is a little over a minute of pure bass which leads into the actual tune that is under seven minutes. The trumpet and guitar solos add the crowning touch to this masterpiece.
Lefkowitz-Brown takes it down several notches on “Eastern Flower.” It encompasses a lovely, relaxed paced that the sax and piano gives life to. “Time And Space” starts as a ballad then goes into an upbeat rhythm with multiple solos (sax, trumpet, drums) that follow. “The End”, the CD finale, has a soulful melody with a lot of depth. Lefkowitz-Brown really poured a lot into this one.
Some musicians are self-made while others have an innate ability. With Lefkowitz-Brown, the unthinkable has happened – he has both! His father was a music teacher with an ardent love of jazz. With an incredible start such as this, Lefkowitz-Brown won the DownBeat Magazine Student Music Award at the age of 11. Since, he has played with numerous musicians including Dave
Brubeck, Christian McBride and Josh Groban. Likewise, the Grammy Awards, Carnegie Hall, the Monterey Jazz Festival and the Staples Center are among the many venues he has performed at. He is a talent worth watching.
Album artists: Chad Lefkowitz-Brown (tenor saxophone), Adam O’Farrill (trumpet), Travis Reuter (guitar), Sam Harris (piano), Linda Oh (bass), and Kenneth Salters (drums). Track listings: A turbulent Drift; Still Here; Manic Panic; Where The Wild Things are; Tooth and Fang Intro; Tooth And Fang; Eastern Flower; With Bated Breath; Time And Space; The End.
