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Michael Blake: Tiddy Boom

By Glenn Astarita
October 6, 2014
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Track review of "Letters In Disguise"

Tenor saxophonist Michael Blake has played a prominent factor within the backbone of New York's progressive jazz scene, having performed with big bands, small ensembles and on Tiddy Boom, re-aligning with New York Jazz Collective comrades, pianist

Frank Kimbrough

piano
1956 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Frank Kimbrough and bassist

Ben Allison

bass, acoustic
b.1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Ben Allison. In-demand session drummer

Rudy Royston

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Rudy Royston complements a group that proffers sympathetic support to Blake's line of attack, outlined by classic jazz outings by yesteryear's masters. Essentially, he revisits his origins and pays homage to

Coleman Hawkins

saxophone, tenor
1904 - 1969

" data-original-title="" title="">Coleman Hawkins and

Lester Young

saxophone
1909 - 1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Lester Young but imparts his personalized flair throughout this sprightly excursion.

Blake presents a conglomerate of swing and mid-tempo bop vamps amid some whirling unison runs with Kimbrough. The saxophonist's titanic tonal range and intense phrasings help drive the quartet's authoritative musicality. Otherwise, "Letters In Disguise" is the lengthiest piece, clocking in at nine and one-half minutes. Here, Kimbrough's massive block chords intersperse ephemeral, free-form detours with classic, modern jazz fare as he helps raise the pitch along with Blake's soul-stirring expressionism and corpulent solo spots. The quartet delves into loping grooves and cresting opuses while combining an edgy new-age jazz vibe, spawned by beaming mainstream jazz choruses, brawny rhythmic breakouts and a transparent unification of the old with the new.

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Track Listing

1. Skinny Dip; 2. Tiddy Boom; 3. Hawk's Last Rhumba; 4. Boogaloop; 5. Coastline; 6. Letters in Disguise; 7. A Good Day for Pres; 8. The Ambassadors.

Personnel

Michael Blake

saxophone, tenor

Michael Blake: tenor saxophone; Frank Kimbrough: piano; Ben Allison: bass; Rudy Royston: drums.

Album information

Title: Tiddy Boom | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: Sunnyside Records

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