Son of famed violinist John Blake and usually at the helm of Tom Harrell’s band, drummer Johnathan Blake leads an open trio with the spartan support of bassist Linda May Han Oh and tenor sax titan Chris Potter/ts. The venue is The Jazz Gallery, and the two hour sets stretch over two nights in January, 2018. The music is strong, free and yet always accessible.
The leader opens things up with a conversant solo drum, leading into a deep drive of “Synchronicity” that has Potter in a declaratory mood.” Oh gives a rich and lyrical intro to the melancholic “Trope” which features Blake on suave brushes. The urgent and dark “High School Daze” as well as the angular “No Bebop Daddy” are both kinetic yet never catastrophic, with everyone stretching out, but never breaking. Blake snaps everyone to attention on his “Bedrum” and is in a rich arm wrestling match, coming to a bicep pumping draw on “Eagle.” Oh and Blake are nimble on the fun bopper “Relaxing At Camarillo” and Potter goes bel canto on the melodic “West Berkley St.” Impressive for its mix of muscle and musicality.