Jazz Articles about Michael Blake

Michael Blake: Drift

by AAJ Staff
February 1, 2002

Blake is an improvising saxophonist who, because of his personal interests and the label he’s on, is often mistakenly relegated to the Worldbeat sections. To be honest, this disc only grabbed me halfway through, but when it did, it grabbed hard, and has sustained repeated listening.

The title cut, “Drift,” is echoed à la old ECM, and has lots of little percussion making the mournful tune very world-weary. Kimbrough, listed as playing only piano, is on an electric model. Scherr’s ...

The Herbie Nichols Project: Strange City

by C. Andrew Hovan
December 1, 2001

Since 1992, the Herbie Nichols Project has been dedicated to performing the music of a gentleman who in his lifetime was sadly neglected but who left behind a body of work just as idiosyncratic and distinctive as that of Thelonious Monk. Following their two previous releases, Dr. Cyclop’s Dream and Love Is Proximity, the group now makes their debut on the Palmetto label with Strange City, a program made up almost exclusively by tunes that Nichols never recorded himself. Arguably, ...

The Herbie Nichols Project: Strange City

by Mark Corroto
November 1, 2001

The Herbie Nichols Project releases its third recording of the one-time lost genius, Herbie Nichols. Co-led by bassist Ben Allison and pianist Frank Kimbrough, the HNP was created as part of the Jazz Composers Collective, a non-profit musician-run organization, to present original music. By choosing the work of Nichols, Allison and Kimbrough have re-ignited interest in a true genius of modern music.Herbie Nichols, born in 1919 in New York of immigrant parent from St. Kitt and Trinidad, was ...

Michael Blake: Drift

by Glenn Astarita
April 1, 2001

Following up his stunning and hauntingly beautiful 1997 solo release, Kingdom of Champra - saxophonist/composer Michael Blake enlists fellow “Jazz Composers Collective” performers along with modern jazz saxophonist Briggan Krauss and others for this equally impressive production simply titled, Drift. Here, the New York City-based artist once again demonstrates his melodic compositional gifts to coincide with his full-bodied tenor sax tone and witty arrangements.

Blake’s superb thematic invention is supplemented by a large ensemble who sound as though they enjoy ...

Ben Allison: Medicine Wheel

by Glenn Astarita
December 1, 1998

Ben Allison asserts: “The Medicine Wheel is a mirror in which the universe is reflected. Any idea, person or object can be such a mirror". Derived from North American Indian beliefs Allison's somewhat mystical approach adheres to the overall attitude behind his music and the band's execution. The Septet aptly called “Medicine Wheel" is a conglomerate of “new jazz" musicians who yearn for new sounds and ideas while extending the capabilities of their respective musical instruments.

Medicine Wheel is: Ben ...