There is nothing predictable about Brandon Sanders, and Lasting Impression follows suit. Long before he found his calling behind a drum kit, Sanders was crashing the boards as a basketball player at the University of Kansas and spinning records as a DJ in Compton. He didn't even touch a pair of drumsticks until he was 25—a point when many musicians have already settled into their identities. Sanders went the opposite direction, building his craft from the ground up. You can hear that journey in every groove. He doesn't play like someone chained to jazz tradition. He plays like someone who fought his way into the room and decided to rearrange the furniture.
That attitude is stamped all over the opening "8-4 Beat," which wastes no time locking into a thick pocket that feels equal parts jazz, funk, and streetwise swagger. The title track, "Lasting Impression," expands that foundation into something more personal, balancing muscular rhythms with moments of surprising elegance. Then Sanders flips the script on "Shadoboxing," a tune that bobs, weaves, and throws rhythmic jabs from every angle. It's playful without becoming showy and technical without sounding like an exercise. Sanders never plays at the listener—he invites them into the groove and lets the music do the talking.
The emotional center of the record comes through its collaborations and quieter moments. Jazzmeia Horn brings warmth and effortless charisma to "Our Love Is Here to Stay," turning the Gershwin standard into an intimate conversation rather than a museum piece. Sanders responds with remarkable restraint, proving he knows that great drummers often make their biggest statements by leaving space. That same maturity carries into "Tales of Mississippi," where rich textures and soulful phrasing paint vivid landscapes, before "Soul Eyes" slows the pulse without sacrificing momentum. Even the cleverly titled "No BS for B.S." packs plenty of personality, mixing wit with deep-pocket musicianship that feels both relaxed and razor-sharp.
By the time "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)" closes the album, Lasting Impression has accomplished exactly what its title promises. Sanders isn't interested in dazzling listeners with endless solos or technical fireworks. He'd rather make you move, make you smile, and make you hit replay. His unlikely journey is certainly inspiring, but it isn't the story here—it's the music that matters. And that's the biggest surprise of all. Brandon Sanders plays with the soul of someone who's lived several lives before ever sitting behind a drum kit, and every one of those experiences echoes through this vibrant, groove-heavy collection.
Sanders’ album can be found wherever the best in jazz sounds are sold. Drop the needle. Stay there.
