P&M Records is proud to present 'Elephant Crush,' the second single from saxophonist Michael Blake’s newest body of work. He is once again joined by Chroma Nova, his Brazilian fueled ensemble that created the critically acclaimed 2023 release Dance of the Mystic Bliss.
P&M Records Announces “Elephant Crush" — To Be Released December 15 2025. The Second Single from Michael Blake’s New Recording Sessions
P&M Records is proud to present Elephant Crush, the second single from saxophonist Michael Blake’s newest body of work. He is once again joined by Chroma Nova, his Brazilian fueled ensemble that created the critically acclaimed 2023 release Dance of the Mystic Bliss.
With Elephant Crush, Michael offers a searching, impassioned tenor saxophone performance that imbues contemporary jazz aesthetics within a world beat groove. Blake’s saxophone voice has long drawn comparisons to the greats. New York Times jazz critic Ben Ratliff wrote, “you can hear Archie Shepp and Lucky Thompson and Coltrane and Dewey Redman in Mr. Blake.”
Reflecting on the title Elephant Crush, Blake shared:
“Back in 2011, on our first night in Livingstone (Zambia), my brother and I were treated to an exciting taxi ride at night on a dirt road through a family of elephants. The driver said it was important not to surprise them, then he turned on his lights and gunned it, narrowly missing the calf and running off the road! We never got as close to an elephant after that but we did feel the ground shake as a herd of them came running towards us a few days later while on safari. This was an amazing sight!”
With plans for more releases ahead, Elephant Crush offers listeners another glimpse of Blake and the Chroma Nova band in full flight—capturing their chemistry at its most spontaneous.
P&M Records is proud to present Elephant Crush, the second single from saxophonist Michael Blake’s newest body of work. He is once again joined by Chroma Nova, his Brazilian fueled ensemble that created the critically acclaimed 2023 release Dance of the Mystic Bliss.
With Elephant Crush, Michael offers a searching, impassioned tenor saxophone performance that imbues contemporary jazz aesthetics within a world beat groove. Blake’s saxophone voice has long drawn comparisons to the greats. New York Times jazz critic Ben Ratliff wrote, “you can hear Archie Shepp and Lucky Thompson and Coltrane and Dewey Redman in Mr. Blake.”
Reflecting on the title Elephant Crush, Blake shared:
“Back in 2011, on our first night in Livingstone (Zambia), my brother and I were treated to an exciting taxi ride at night on a dirt road through a family of elephants. The driver said it was important not to surprise them, then he turned on his lights and gunned it, narrowly missing the calf and running off the road! We never got as close to an elephant after that but we did feel the ground shake as a herd of them came running towards us a few days later while on safari. This was an amazing sight!”
With plans for more releases ahead, Elephant Crush offers listeners another glimpse of Blake and the Chroma Nova band in full flight—capturing their chemistry at its most spontaneous.
