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This is the brand new album by John and features Sumi Tonooka on piano, Boris Koslov on bass and Johnathan Blake on drums. Play Motherland Play Born Yesterday Play Samples of the entire album Songs on this album are: 1. Motherland 2. The Tap Dancer 3. The Traveler 4. Hymn For Heroes 5. Born Yesterday 6. The Clinging 7. Drum Interlude 8. Shadower  | | The compositions by violinist John Blake on this set are more complex than usual, sometimes using funky grooves but obviously challenging the leader. Blake is heard throughout in top form, accompanied by electric keyboardist James Simmons, acoustic pianist Sumi Tonooka, electric bassist Gerald Veasley, drummer Leon Jordon and percussionist Leonard "Doc" Gibbs. The blend of the two keyboards and the inventive use of African and Brazilian elements in the music uplift the date and make this an intriguing set worth acquiring. by Scott Yanow - AllMusicGuide.com Play Dream Lady Play Serengetti Dance Play Samples of the entire album Features renowned electric bassist, Gerald Veasley Songs on this album are: 1. Dream Lady 2. Samba Di Bahia 3. Yours And Mine 4. New Beginning 5. String Safari 6. El C's 7. Serengetti Dance |
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Features McCoy Tyner as special guest along with Kenny Baron(piano) and Cecil McBee(bass). With his diverse experience (playing with everyone from McCoy Tyner to Grover Washington, Jr.), it is not surprising that violinist John Blake's debut as a leader covers a wide area of music, from post-bop jazz to more R&B-ish tracks. The level of the musicianship is quite impressive, helped out by alternating pianists McCoy Tyner and Kenny Barron and bassist Cecil McBee; two members of the Blake family (Alan and Lita) take some vocals. by Scott Yarow - AllMusicGuide.com Play Maiden Dance Play Caravan of Dreams Play Samples of the entire album Songs on this album are: 1. Caravan of Dreams 2. Movin' Up 3. Beautiful Love 4. The Other Side of a World 5. Maiden Dance 6. For Tomorrow 7. Todos Mis Ninos | | Violinist John Blake's second set is generally a bit R&B-oriented, with the talented violinist (who doubles on synthesizer) being joined by an oversized rhythm section (which includes either electric bassist Gerald Veasley or acoustic bassist Avery Sharpe) for a variety of melodic and danceable numbers. Blake's solos (and the inclusion of "Dat Dere" and "Con Alma" to balance out the originals) make this into a worthwhile session. by Scott Yanow - AllMusicGuide.com Play Twinkling of an Eye Play La Verdad Play Samples of the entire album Songs on this album are: 1. La Verdad 2. Dat Dere 3. Song for John and Carrie 4. Ocean Walking 5. Twinkling of an Eye 6. Con Alma 7. Genesis |
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Special guest Grover Washington Jr.( soprano saxophone) on tracks 2 and 4. Features renowned electric bassist, Gerald Veasley throughout. Play Prelude #2 - All This Love Play Mr. McT (for McCoy Tyner) Play Samples of the entire album Songs on this album are: 1. Adventures of the Heart 2. Caribbean Sunset 3. Mandela-We are One 4. Shapin' Up 5. Prelude No. 2 - All This Love 6. Nuestro Momento (Our Moment) 7. Mr. MCT (for McCoy Tyner) 8. A Child is Born | | Three top jazz violinists (John Blake, Didier Lockwood, and Michal Urbaniak) who have shown versatility throughout their careers perform a variety of straight-ahead and funky originals on this consistently enjoyable effort. Assisted by keyboardist Bernard Wright, Marcus Miller, or Carl James on bass and drummer Lenny White, the trio of fiddlers match wits and trade off on such numbers as "Romance," "Va Va Voom," "Serenade," and "Fiddle Funk." Highly recommended. - Scott Yanow - AllMusicGuide.com Play Facts of Life Play Fiddle Funk Play Samples of the entire album Songs on this album are: 1. Romance 2. Liliana 3. Va Va Voom 4. Facts Of Life 5. Serenade 6. Fiddle Funk 7. Format 8. People's Express |
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The best moments on violinist John Blake's 1992 release are the two selections that feature his former boss, Grover Washington Jr., on soprano. Washington swings hard on an overly brief version of "Moment's Notice" and plays soulfully on "Val's Blues." Other selections have Blake and his rhythm section (with pianist Joey Calderazzo, bassist Charles Fambrough, drummer Ben Riley, and percussionist Omar Hill) joined by Joe Ford on soprano and mostly playing melodic group originals. The one exception is Charlie Chaplin's "Smile," which features some lyrical violin from the talented if underrated Blake. by Scott Yanow - AllMusicGuide.com Play New Light Play At Home Play Samples of the entire album Songs on this album are: 1. Quest 2. New Light 3. Smile 4. Ice Angel 5. At Home 6. Moments Notice 7. Ms. Pearl 8. Val's Blues 9. Easin' It | | Outside of Philadelphia, John Blake isn't nearly as well known as he should be, which is regrettable because the veteran violinist is a very expressive and versatile improviser. Blake, who is best-known among Philadelphians for his association with the late Grover Washington Jr., is no stranger to soul-jazz and jazz-funk. But he is equally proficient when it comes to bop and post-bop. Blake's straight-ahead side prevails on Kindred Spirits, an album of duets with acoustic pianist Sumi Tonooka. There are no drums or bass on this bop/post-bop CD; Tonooka's piano is Blake's only accompaniment on lyrical versions of Harold Arlen's "Over the Rainbow" and Billy Strayhorn's "Isfahan" as well as cerebral bop standards like Bud Powell's "Parisian Thoroughfare" and Thelonious Monk's "Evidence." Two McCoy Tyner-ish originals are also offered (Tonooka's "Susumu" and Blake's "Maiden Dance"), but the duo's primary focus is well-known standards. Obviously, many of the songs on this 2000 effort have been done to death; some long-time jazz lovers will ask if they really need to hear yet another version of "I Hear a Rhapsody." But while Blake and Tonooka could have been more adventurous and less conventional in their choice of material, one is inclined to be forgiving because (1) Blake plays with so much warmth and feeling, (2) violin/piano duets aren't all that common in jazz, and (3) Blake is one of jazz's unsung heroes (at least outside of the Philadelphia/Delaware Valley area). Kindred Spirits is a pleasing effort from a soulful violinist who doesn't deserve to be neglected. by Alex Henderson - AllMusicGuide.com John Blake, Jr. (violin) and Sumi Tonooka (piano). Play I Hear a Rhapsody Play Parisienne Thoroughfare Play Samples of the entire album Songs on this album are: 1. I Hear a Rhapsody 2. Susumu 3. Isfahan 4. Evidence 5. Song for Abdullah 6. Maiden Dance 7. Over the Rainbow 8. Just Friends 9. Parisienne Thoroughfare |
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Play Movin' Up Play Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child Play Samples of the entire album Songs on this album are: 1. Movin' Up 2. Prayer Meetin' 3. Underground Railroad 4. Motherland 5. Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child 6. His Eye Is on the Sparrow 7. Maiden Dance 8. Freefall 9. Mr. P.C. 10. Promised Land 11. Passion Dance 12. Jim Crow 13. There Is No Greater Love | ||
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| About John Blake Blake first drew international attention as a sideman in the ground-breaking Grover Washington, Jr. group, the hugely popular "crossover" jazz group of choice in the mid-70s. After three years of recording and touring with Washington, Blake did, for a violinist, the unprecedented: a five-year stint in John Coltrane alumnus and seminal jazz stylist McCoy Tyner's ensemble. Tyner's music has always been some of the most challenging and powerful in jazz, and John rose to that challenge and became one of the strongest string improvisers ever. In the mid-eighties, Blake made his debut as a band leader and composer with 5 well-received recordings. His sixth recording, Quest, was released on Sunnyside records. That recording featured some of John's more prominent associates: Joe Ford, Charles Fambrough, Ben Riley, Omar Hill, Joey Calderazzo, and Blake's old boss, Grover Washington, Jr, in an intimate and straight ahead homecoming celebration. As a violinist, Blake has had a deep education. Born in Philadelphia, he began violin in the public school system and the Settlement Music School. He graduated from West Virginia University and the Institute for Advanced Studies in Montreux, Switzerland. John also studied East Indian music on a grant, further widening his musical vision. Blake has augmented his work as an instrumentalist, composer and producer by becoming an author, teacher and lecturer, passing on his unique and hard-won knowledge. He presents hundreds of workshops annually to musicians on all levels. He has co-written, with Suzuki teacher Jody Harmon, the definitive beginning string jazz method book and CD, in use all over the world. He also lectures on campuses all over the country and is a faculty member at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and at the Manhattan School of Music in New York, and he has been a guest lecturer at Berklee School of Music in Boston. He currently gives hundreds of educational concerts and workshops each year in Philadelphia and New Jersey through an organization called "Strings for Schools." For many years, he has taught at numerous jazz string summer programs such as Jazz in July, String Fling, Montclair University Jazz Camp, Mark O'Connor Fiddle Camp, and Madeline Island String Camp. He has also been Artist in Residence for the States of New Jersey, Ohio, Nebraska and Pennsylvania. Blake has become a leading voice in jazz improvisation for string players. He is constantly sought after by string organizations such as the Suzuki Foundation in various cities throughout the U.S. and the American String Teachers Association. His concerts, seminars and workshops have taken him all over the United States, South America, Europe and Japan. Visit John Blake's web site |