Dan Blake: Da Fe’

Leading a team of Carmen Staaf/p-fen, Leo Genovese/keys-p, Dmitry Ishenko/b and Jeff Williams/dr, soprano and tenor saxist dan Blake delivers a wide ranging collection of post bop originals. Some of the pieces have an allegiance to Theolonious Monk, as Williams produces some sharp angles for Blake’s soprano on “Cry of the East”  and Staaf gets quirky for Blake’s lower register’d tenor on “The Cliff”. Staaf has a wonderful solo opening on the Jarrett-like “Prologue” while getting dark with the rhythm team on the fierce and loose “The Grifter”. Ishenko produces some rich work for Blake on the s pacey and spacious title track, while the leader cries in altissimo on the intense “Pain”. Some meditative sound effects join with Blake’s soprano sax on the closing “Epilogue”, making you feel like you’ve taken a journey through some rich reeds.

www.sunnysiderecords.com

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