| In 1990, Blake moved to Tampa,
FL, and began work as an Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies
at the University of South Florida, and nurtured his classical
interests by performing with the Florida Symphony Orchestra.
Occasionally, he would fly to New York to sit-in with Branford
Marsalis; Mulgrew Miller; and Kenny Kirkland. In 1992, Blake
re-located to New York City and joined Roy Hargrove’s Quintet,
a collaboration that spanned five years. During this period,
Blake also worked with dozens of jazz greats including: Johnny
Griffin, Art Farmer, Stanley Turrentine, Roy Haynes, Art Taylor,
Benny Golson, Betty Carter, Shirley Horn, Abbey Lincoln, and
Ray Brown. In 1998, Blake recorded 21st Century, a unique Caribbean-influenced
jazz project, with drummer and fellow-Virgin Islander Dion Parson. |
| In addition to his 2000 debut
as a leader on Up Front and Personal with special guest Johnny
Griffin, Ron Blake released his first Mack Avenue recording,
Lest We Forget in 2003, followed by Sonic Tonic in 2005. In 2005,
he was featured in Meshell Ndegéocello’s group,
Spirit Music Jamia (with Michael Cain), which released a critically
acclaimed recording, Dance of the Infidel. Since the year 2000,
Blake has been a member of the Christian McBride Band and is
featured on McBride’s Live at Tonic. Blake also has guest
appearances on several Mack Avenue recordings, including: Gerald
Wilson, Sean Jones, and Tia Fuller. In 2005, he was invited to
join NBC’s Saturday Night Live Band, where he plays the
baritone saxophone and flute. In 2007, Blake was appointed to
teach in the Jazz Studies program at the Juilliard School of
Music. Currently, he is member of the faculty at both New York
University and Nyack College (Manhattan campus). |
| Shayari is Ron Blake’s
most comprehensive and compelling work to date. It is a recording
that unveils all of the musical inventions and dimensions of
this evolving artist who has inherited the wisdom of the masters,
and has captured the attention of today’s young musicians. |
Ron Blake • Shayari
(MAC 1036) |
Mack Avenue • Worldwide
Release Date: January 29, 2008
For media information, please contact
CONTACT _Con-3ECA646D43 \c \s \l Brad Riesau at DL Media
West 909-744-0704 • brad@jazzpublicity.com
MACK
AVENUE • the road to great
music • www.mackavenue.com
19900 Harper Avenue, Harper Woods, MI 48225
313-640-8414 • fax
313-640-8415 |
|
