P&M Records Announces Chroma Nova's 'Elephant Crush'—To Be Released December 15, 2025

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.

About Chroma Nova

Chroma Nova is Michael Blake’s cross-cultural ensemble that blends jazz improvisation with Brazilian and chamber influences:

Guilherme Monteiro (guitar)

Guilherme Monteiro is a prominent Brazilian jazz guitarist and composer known for his work in the New York City jazz scene and as a core member of the band Forro in the Dark. He is also known for his work with Ron Carter and Bebel Gilberto.

Skye Soto Steele (violin)

Skye Soto Steele the violinist, songwriter, and educator has a mom from Puerto Rico and a dad from Tennessee, and he plays fiddle like it. Skye has released five albums of original music, been featured in Rolling Stone, and toured as a solo artist throughout the US and Europe.

Gili Lopes (bass)

Gili Lopes is a distinguished bassist and composer who has garnered acclaim for his unique blend of Brazilian roots and contemporary jazz.

Rogério Boccato (drums & percussion)

Rogério Boccato is a renowned Brazilian percussionist and educator known for his dynamic career that bridges Brazilian music and jazz. He has performed and recorded with a wide array of top-tier artists and is a prominent faculty member at several music institutions in New York City.

About Michael Blake

Michael Blake is a saxophonist, composer, and bandleader whose four-decade career has spanned collaborations with jazz legends, experimental ensembles, and genre-crossing projects. Known for his adventurous spirit and lyricism, he has released more than a dozen acclaimed albums as a leader, including Kingdom of Champa (1997), Amor de Cosmos (2007) and Dance of the Mystic Bliss (2023). His work continues to balance structured composition with fierce improvisation.