Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » John Blum: In The Shade Of The Sun

John Blum: In The Shade Of The Sun

By Karl Ackermann
March 5, 2010
View read count

Despite his relative anonymity, pianist John Blum has been a New York free jazz fixture for more than a decade. In the Shade of the Sun teams him with ubiquitous bassist

William Parker

bass
b.1952

" data-original-title="" title="">William Parker and percussion innovator

" data-original-title="" title="">Sunny Murray. Blum and Murray work well together, having established their musical relationship in Murray's trio and on Perles Noires Volume 2 (Eremite, 2005). Parker can create his own place in any mix and does so here as well.

Blum's keyboard technique is something of a free jazz hybrid of

McCoy Tyner

piano
1938 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">McCoy Tyner and

Cecil Taylor

piano
1929 - 2018

" data-original-title="" title="">Cecil Taylor, decidedly percussive but with relentlessly fast right-hand linear structure. When combined with Murray's complex kit work, it is a wonder that Parker manages to make a statement of his own. The nearly fifteen minute opener is part 1 of the title track, and it finds Blum using the entire keyboard and multiple techniques to create a spectrum of sound that would easily hold up as a solo piece. Murray assimilates without sacrificing a display of his much overlooked skills and Parker subtly ties the dialog together.

The collection's closing is the title track's second part, and is one of those rare spots where things slow down enough to breathe. Parker starts out with the bow and Blum approaches an almost conventional melody. The tranquility shatters less than half way through, however, as Blum attacks the keys with the urgency of an improvised fire drill. He creates a vocabulary of undertones and overtones that are unique from his band mates while never thoughtless of the big picture.

There is no question that, despite his more notable trio members, this is Blum's project. The four tracks lodged between the title pieces are heavily dominated by piano, and each requires a high degree of agility from both Parker and Murray. This is not dinner music, but neither is it inaccessible. Blum is doing something very interesting with lyricism, but more through subterfuge than obvious presentation. In the Shade of the Sun demands attention and is well worth the time.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

In the Shade of the Sun, Part 1; First and Last; Misanthrope's Dream; Out of this Nettle; Transmigration; In the Shade of the Sun, Part 2.

Personnel

John Blum

piano

John Blum: piano; William Parker: bass; Sunny Murray: drums.

Album information

Title: In The Shade Of The Sun | Year Released: 2010 | Record Label: Ecstatic Peace

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Take Five With Ameranouche
< Previous

Artificial Joy
Next >

John Blum Concerts

Sep 27 Sat

Ingardens Festival

First Street Green Cultural Park
New York, NY

Sep 28 Sun

Ingardens Festival

First Street Green Cultural Park
New York, NY

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.