The Messthetics are an instrumental trio from Washington, DC, Featuring Fugazi's rhythm section-Joe Lally (bass) and Brendan Canty (drums)-with guitarist Anthony Pirog. Since forming in 2018, they've toured widely and released two albums on Dischord Records. In 2023, they joined forces with saxophonist James Brandon Lewis for an album on Impulse Records. Their live shows remain fiery, spontaneous, and a testament to their dedication to the performance experience.

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Messthetics with James Brandon Lewis

Krannert Center for the Performing Arts

In 2021, the saxophonist and composer James Brandon Lewis had a career breakthrough with his 10th album, The Jesup Wagon. Inspired by the mobile agricultural education efforts of inventor George Washington Carver, the song cycle was hailed by critics for its dreamlike mosaic of gospel, folk-blues and catcalling brass bands. It was named Album of the Year at Jazz Times and DownBeat and a bunch of international jazz magazines, and it established Lewis as one of the provocative musical voices of his generation.

James Brandon Lewis’ Red Lily Quintet

Monterey County Fairgrounds

Guitarist extraordinaire Marc Ribot follows his muse wherever it leads, resulting in a career path that has ranged across free jazz and no wave, rock and Cuban rumba. In some circles he’s best known as a key collaborator with singular artists such as Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, John Zorn, Diana Krall, and Robert Plant and Alison Krauss (contributing to their 2007 hit album Raising Sand).

The last time the mind-bogglingly eclectic checked into the SFJAZZ Center he played eight solo shows in the JHL, alternating between freely improvised sets, extended medleys of Haitian-American composer Frantz Casseus, Cuban maestro Arsenio Rodríguez and John Coltrane, and his gorgeous score for the 1924 Soviet silent film Aelita: Queen of Mars.

James Brandon Lewis

Events

Past events

Sep 4, 2025

Messthetics with James Brandon Lewis · Krannert Center for the Performing Arts

Sep 29, 2024

James Brandon Lewis’ Red Lily Quintet · Monterey Jazz Festival

About

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