FROM NEW YORK: MICHAEL BLAKE

Sat, Feb 21

Tenor saxophonist MICHAEL BLAKE returns home for for the first time in nearly 7 years! In a career spanning over three decades, New York City based saxophonist Michael Blake has created an impressive body of work in the field of contemporary music. As a leader he has fifteen albums to his name. His original music embraces sonic dimensions that both embrace and reach beyond the traditional structures that define the art form of jazz. Throughout the 1990’s Michael was a member of the New York band John Lurie and The Lounge Lizards. Most recently he was featured performing in Lurie’s 2022-2024 HBO show Painting with John. B he also played sax on the Nickelodeon children’s TV series The Backyardigans and the film version of Get Shorty. As a sideman, Michael has played a seminal role in the bands of guitarist Charlie Hunter, bassist Ben Allison and trumpeter Steven Bernstein. A constant force on the New York music scene, Blake’s music has brought him widespread critical acclaim. On both the tenor and soprano saxophones, Michael continues to refine and develop a personal style that is immediately identifiable. His most recent projects include Blake & Brass XL and Chroma Nova, a group with Brazilian percussion and strings. In 2023 Blake, along with his older brother, launched P&M Records. Their debut release was Chroma Nova’s Dance of the Mystic Bliss which earned them Best Album of the Month and #3 Jazz Album of the year in The Guardian. With Chris Gestrin on Hammond organ and Joe Poole on drums