Ran Blake: Voices

Following closely upon another of his beguiling efforts with vocalist Dominique Eade, Roots & Byways (Sunnyside, 2026), Ran Blake proves he remains just as invested in his solo piano work on Voices. The 19 pieces, which possess Blake's distinctive blend of oblique lyricism and generous breadth, are gorgeous reflections that incorporate broad swaths of twentieth-century music and serve as another vivid reminder of Blake's longstanding dedication to transcending category.

From Puccini's "My Name is Mimi" to Fats Waller's ("Ain't Misbehavin'") to Al Green's "Judy," the scope of Blake's reach is striking, as is his ability to inhabit each piece with his trademark sensitivity and grace. The wistful melancholy of the opening track, "If I Should Lose You," establishes the prevailing sentiment of much of the record, as Blake's delicate sketch possesses a quiet dignity, exceedingly patient in its investigation of the tune's poignancy, with just a hint of stridency emerging in the last moments with three incisive repeated chords. Eade's own "Go Gently to the Water" has a similar resonance, with Blake touching on the plaintive melody while adding harmonic depth to its contours. Even "You Are My Sunshine" takes on a darker character in Blake's hands, with dissonant voicings giving the tune a slight feeling of unease.

Despite the album's general solemnity, it also has a few lighthearted moments. Ray Charles' "Hallelujah, I Love Her So" would be almost impossible to perform without a fundamental joy, and Blake's buoyant rendition is no exception. Waller's "Ain't Misbehavin'" has a similar carefree quality, even if a bit less rhythmically driven than "Hallelujah."

As one might expect, Blake's work here is considerably less demonstrative than his earlier artistry; there are fewer glimpses of raw exuberance or sudden detours. But what remains is his persistent commitment to finding the essence of the tunes he explores, while at the same time revealing intriguing possibilities and layers previously unrecognized. There is no better example than Michael Masser and Gerry Goffin's "Saving All My Love for You," a piece Blake first recorded with Eade on Roots & Byways. The melody remains front-and-center here, although Blake refracts it through his idiosyncratic harmonic choices and subtle inflections, putting his stamp on the piece with authority.

The album concludes with the Roy Hawkins-Rick Darnell blues number, "The Thrill is Gone," but Voices convincingly demonstrates that Blake continues to create an abundance of stimulating music, even if it is largely in a quieter, more restrained register.