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Alex Blake

Bassist Alex Blake, born in Panama City, Panama, has a revolutionary playing style and technique distinctly his own. He combines innovative strumming, rapid lyrical notations and percussive slaps on his bass to create a unique and compelling sound. Some have called him “an entire rhythm section”.

Alex Blake’s talent is measured by the plenitude of masters who have called upon him over his more than forty-year career for his inventive and passionate playing. In addition to having played with Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, Sun Ra, Art Blakey, Freddie Hubbard, McCoy Tyner, Lenny White, Stan Getz, Harry Belafonte, and the Manhattan Transfer, Alex is a long-time member of NEA Jazz Master Randy Weston’s African Rhythms.

In demand for recording, festivals, concerts and clubs both nationally and internationally, Alex leads his own group, The Alex Blake Collective, comprised of notable, eclectic musicians.

Originally from Panama, Alex Blake became a trumpet player as a young boy before switching to the bass at the encouragement of his father. Beginning with the Ampeg “baby bass,” Alex became immersed in the Latin styles of music, playing salsa, bossa nova and other forms, while developing his signature technique of playing the bass.

In his interview with Christopher Porter of the Jazz Times, he fondly described the launch of his professional career: “I started playing professionally when I was 12 years old, the music I was playing was Latin, I was playing with great percussionists like Kako and Patato.”

As a child, he enjoyed the infusion of cultures common in Central America. Acting as a bridge between North and South America, Panama captures a little bit of each culture passing through. It only follows that as one of the building blocks to his character, this environmental influence would later be echoed in his uncanny ability to play every style of music. When he was seven years old, his parents moved to the United States, settling in Brooklyn, his mother was a mathematician, and his father an acclaimed trombone player. Together, they offered him a creative and intellectual foundation that embodied diligence, an unwavering devotion to inventiveness, and excellence.

In his 2012 interview with Jon Liebman, he recalls his early years:

"I left Panama when I was 7 years old, but I still remember it a bit. "When I was coming up, my father played with one of the great musicians of Panama, Victor Boa. I guess he was the equivalent of Duke Ellington in this country. I used to go to rehearsals with my dad. He bought me a toy trombone and I used to play with him. I would go to the rehearsals and sit down with the rest of the guys. They would put out a music stand for me, I’d pick up my toy trombone and play alongside my dad. Those rehearsals marked my first introduction to music. I would sit back and listen to the guys and they would let me get up on stage and sit next to my dad, put some music on a stand for me and I swore I was playing! I thought I was playing along with the big band."

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120
Album Review

Alex Blake: Now Is The Time

Read "Now Is The Time" reviewed by Mark Corroto


Randy Weston’s secret is revealed on this live date from New York’s Knitting Factory. But anyone who has seen the tall pianist knows his rhythm secret is Alex Blake. The Panamanian-born, New York-raised bassist started out with Mongo Santamaria and toured with Sun Ra and Dizzy Gillespie. For the past decade he has been touring and recording with Randy Weston, one of the best live acts in jazz today.

This recording is Blake’s first domestic release as a leader. But ...

140
Album Review

Alex Blake Quintet featuring Pharoah Sanders: Now Is The Time (Live at the Knitting Factory)

Read "Now Is The Time (Live at the Knitting Factory)" reviewed by AAJ Staff


Bassist Alex Blake, though an experienced virtuoso, has released only two records under his own name. Now Is The Time is his first disc released outside Japan. It's not as if Blake hasn't been around the block: he toured with Sun Ra at the age of 16, and has recently been working with Randy Weston and Pharoah Sanders.

Now Is The Time documents a recent show at the Knitting Factory, and it retains a very dynamic “live" feel. Blake's quintet ...

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153

Award / Grant

Bassist Alex Blake to Be Honored by Brooklyn Jazz Hall of Fame and Museum With Lifetime Achievement Award

Bassist Alex Blake to Be Honored by Brooklyn Jazz Hall of Fame and Museum With Lifetime Achievement Award

Source: Manjari Prakash

NEW YORK, NY—World renowned double bassist Alex Blake will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award and induction into the Brooklyn Jazz Hall of Fame and Museum by the Central Brooklyn Jazz Consortium on April 28th, 2011 from 6:00 to 8:30pm in a ceremony at the Brooklyn Historical Society. The Lifetime Achievement Award acknowledges a “master musician who continues to play" and contribute to the arts as an ongoing inspiration for other musicians and future talent. The ceremony is one ...

48

Interview

Brooklyn Jazz Hall Of Fame & Museum Induction & Awards

Brooklyn Jazz Hall Of Fame & Museum Induction & Awards

Source: LeTang Jazz/Blues/ Tango Promotion


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Performance / Tour

The Alex Blake Quartet at Central Park's Harlem Meer on Sunday, June 18, 2006

The Alex Blake Quartet at Central Park's Harlem Meer on  Sunday, June 18, 2006

Source: All About Jazz

Harlem Meer Performance Festival Presents THE ALEX BLAKE GROUP Sunday, June 18, 2006, 4:00pm to 6:00pm

The Harlem Meer is located inside Central Park at 110th Street between Fifth and Lenox Avenues

Alex Blakde is one of the most popular and original bassists on the New York jazz scene. Blake has toured and recorded with jazz greats including Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey, and The Manhattan Transfer-- just the tip of a very long list. He's also known for his role ...

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Performance / Tour

The Alex Blake Quartet: "In Motion" at the Jazz Standard

The Alex Blake Quartet: "In Motion" at the Jazz Standard

Source: All About Jazz

As Bassist & band leader Alex Blake is proof that his versatility and acoustic ability lends itself to reshaping the concept of the bass as a lead instrument critics note that... Jazz in Marciac -Day 13- “Basically being his own rhythm, percussion and lead tones - Loudest applause of show yet for this one, no question." ~ Mark Sabbatini, All About Jazz Before heading off to perform in Istanbul, the Blake Quartet will share cuts from their new CD “In ...

194

Event

Alex Blake Birthday Bash- Dec. 21st at Puppet's Jazz Bar - Brooklyn

Alex Blake Birthday Bash- Dec. 21st at Puppet's Jazz Bar - Brooklyn

Source: All About Jazz

Alex Blake's Birthday Bash!

At Puppets Jazz Bar in Park Slope - Brooklyn!

Come and celebrate with us! Wednesday - Dec. 21, 2005 at 9:00pm

The range of Alex Blake's talent is bordering on phenomenal, as a plethora of musician's in virtually every style call upon him for truly unique bass playing.

His recording and touring dates read like a “who's who" of all the “who's" that have ever played jazz: Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, Sun Ra, Art Blakey, Freddie ...

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Performance / Tour

Alex Blake at The Lenox Lounge - Zebra Room

Alex Blake at The Lenox Lounge - Zebra Room

Source: All About Jazz

The Alex Blake Quartet Friday April 15th & Saturday April 16, 2005 The Lenox Lounge - Zebra Room Jazz Club - Bar - Restaurant Alex Blake has performed and recorded with Manhattan Transfer, Stan Getz, Pharoah Sanders and several other notables in Jazz. Currently Alex has a successful album “Now is the Time," featuring Pharoah Sanders, and continues as the bassist for Randy Weston. Taking his new original music uptown...Experience the incredible style and cool intensity that is Alex Blake! ...

107

Performance / Tour

Alex Blake Quartet at The Jazz Standard

 Alex Blake Quartet at The Jazz Standard

Source: All About Jazz

The Alex Blake Quartet at The Jazz Standard Tuesday March 22 and Wednesday March 23,2005 Blake's extensive discography reads literally like a Who's Who in Jazzville. He has traveled, performed and recorded with several of the greatest... Dizzy Gillespie, Freddie Hubbard, Stan Getz, McCoy Tyner,Max Roach, Art Blakey, Billy Cobham, The Manhattan Transfer, Pharaoh Sanders and Randy Weston.... and others considered Jazz Royalty....his resume is impessive! The Alex Blake Quartet Alex Blake - Bass( Acoustic & Electric) Ted Cruz - ...

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