Born: July 3, 1947 Primary Instrument: Violin
John Blake, Jr. has been one of the world’s leading jazz violinists for over four decades. A four-time winner of the Down Beat Critics’ Poll Violinist Deserving Wider Recognition category he was also one of the top two jazz violinists in the 49th, 50th, and 51st Down Beat Readers’ Poll, Classically trained, Blake first gained recognition on early-'70s recordings he made with Archie Shepp and in the mid-70s became established with a global audience during three years recording and touring as a member of Grover Washington, Jr.’s popular “crossover” jazz band. He then spent five years working extensively as a member of various ensembles led by pianist McCoy. Among other artists with whom Blake has performed and/or recorded with are the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Turtle Island String Quartet, Quartet Indigo, the Steve Turre Sextet, the Billy Taylor Trio, Avery Sharpe, Cecil McBee, Jay Hoggard and James Newton. Blake released his recording debut as a leader and composer, Maiden Dance, in 1984, the first of five well-received projects on Gramavision Records including one that teamed him up with fellow jazz violinists Michal Urbaniak and Didier Lockwood. He released his sixth album, Quest that reunited him with Grover Washington and featured Joe Ford, Charles Fambrough, Ben Riley, Omar Hill, Joey Calderazzo, on Sunnyside Records 1992. Blake’s first recording with his current quartet, The Traveler, was released in 2007.
Born in Philadelphia on July 3, 1947, Blake began studying violin in that city’s public school system and at the Settlement Music School. After graduating from West Virginia University he did postgraduate work at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Montreux, Switzerland and received a grant to study studied East Indian music. In addition to his work as an instrumentalist performing with his quartet and as a featured guest soloist at concerts and on studio sessions, Blake is also an accomplished composer, arranger and producer as well as an author, teacher and lecturer who presents hundreds of workshops annually to musicians at all levels. He co-wrote with Suzuki educator Jody Harmon J.I.M.E., the definitive beginning string jazz method book and CD in use around the world. In addition to lecturing on campuses throughout the US, Blake is on the faculty of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, and has been a guest lecturer at Berklee College of Music in Boston. In 2004 he was appointed to the Basler Chair of Excellence for the winter semester at East Tennessee State University and that year also was awarded a Chamber Music America Jazz Composer Grant.
Awards:
A four-time winner of the Down Beat Critics’ Poll Violinist Deserving Wider Recognition category he was also one of the top two jazz violinists in the 49th, 50th, and 51st Down Beat Readers’ PollSELECT DISCOGRAPHY
As a Leader
The Traveler
Quest (Sunnyside Record SSC 1058)
A New Beginning (Gramavision 18-8808)
Adventures Of The Heart (Gramavision 18-8705)
Twinkling Of An Eye (Gramavision 18-8501)
Maiden Dance (Gramavision GR 8309)
With McCoy Tyner
Horizon (Milestones M-9094)
La Leyenda de la Hora (Columbia FC37375)
N.Y. - Montreux Connection (Columbia FC 37652)
With Sumi Tonooka
Kindred Spirits(Spirit Records)
With Grover Washington, Jr.
Live At The Bijou (Kudo KUX 3637M2)
Reed Seed (Motown M7 910R1)
Baddest (Motown M9940A2)
Paradise (Electra 6E182)
With Archie Shepp
Attica Blues (Impulse AS-9222)
Cry of My People (Impulse AS-9231)
With Avery Sharpe
Avery Sharpe & John Blake Duo Epic Ebony Journey(JKNM Records AS89893)
With James Newton
James Newton (Gramavision GR 8205)
Luella (Gramavision GR 8304)
African Flower (Blue Note BT 85109)
With Steve Turre
Fire & Ice (Stash Records ST-CD-7)
Right There (Antilles Records 314-510040-2) With Others 7 In 7 Out (Rainbow RR 2010) The Young Lions Featured as one of 17 "Exceptional Young Musicians" at Carnegie Hall Kool Jazz Festival, 1982. (Electra/Musician 60196-1) Love Survives Jay Hoggard (Gramavision GR 8204) Flying Out Cecil McBee (India Navigation In 1053) Children of the Fires Marvin Peterson (Sunrise 1944) A Tear and a Smile Catalyst (Muse 5069) Unity Catalyst (Muse 5042) Unlock the Funk Locksmith (Arista AB4274) The String Summit One World in Eight (MPS 0068.275) You Are My Starship Norman Connors (Buddah 0698) Quartet Indigo Quartet Indigo (Landmark Records LCD 1536-2)
Disclaimer: All About Jazz is not responsible for the accuracy of the discographical data at the website(s) provided. If a link is no longer valid, please contact discography@allaboutjazz.com. Thank you.
