Seamus Blake

Guardians of the Heart Machine – the debut Whirlwind release from tenor saxophonist Seamus Blake – symbolizes and protects the importance of creating music with feeling, blending his considerable experience in contemporary jazz with three exciting players originally from the French scene – pianist Tony Tixier, double bassist Florent Nisse and drummer Gautier Garrigue.

BRIDGES is a modern, Nordic jazz project that has a vision to construct musical bridges between Norway and other parts of the world. After releasing the well praised debut album in 2016 and after two years of touring the world, it was clear that the musical bridgework this ensemble was conducting had to be continued. This album is the result.

Seamus Blake's first disc on the Fresh Sound New Talent label is a marvelous showcase not only for the leader but also for guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel, the album's other prominent solo voice. Bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jorge Rossy, together the backbone of Brad Mehldau's famous trio, lay down the ideal rhythmic universe for Blake and Rosenwinkel to flourish in. Opening with the wild, funkified double-time of "Perk," the group goes on to traverse a wide swath of territory, from the classic post-bop swing of "Happenstance" and "G.S.S." to the experimental sounds of "Token Cello" and "Of Ours."

Anders Thorén is a Swedish drummer and producer who recently relocated to Oslo and is involved in a new label called AMP Music & Records. They’ve released a bunch of great jazz albums over the past couple of years, most recently this one that I was asked to play on. Besides Anders and myself, the album features the excellent Norwegian pianist Espen Berg and bassist Ole Morten Vågan and the New York-based saxophonist Seamus Blake. To be honest, I wasn’t familiar with Seamus before this session (!), but he’s a monster of a player with big ears and chops to match them (something I could also say of my other fellow musicians on this album)!

New York based tenor saxophonist/composer SEAMUS BLAKE is recognized as one of the finest exponents of contemporary jazz. His music is known for its sophistication, bold improvisations and “sheer swagger". John Scofield, who hired Seamus for his “Quiet Band,” called him “extraordinary, a total saxophonist.” Seamus Blake’s recent releases, Live at Smalls (Smalls Live 2010), Bellwether (Criss Cross Jazz 2009) and Live in Italy (Jazz Eyes 2009), have garnered considerable critical praise for his masterful playing, his fine compositional skills and for his facility as a leader. Live in Italy was awarded 4.5 stars in Downbeat. Described as “a knockout”, “one of the elite albums of the year” and “as exhilarating as a shot of espresso”, it is on many Top of the Year lists.

Deepening a two-tenor partnership that dates back to the mid-'90s, saxophonists Seamus Blake and Chris Cheek follow up their quintet release 'Reeds Ramble' (CRISS1364CD) with 'Let's Call the Whole Thing Off', featuring the same powerful band lineup (Ethan Iverson on piano, Matt Penman on bass, Jochen Rueckert on drums). While they stand apart as gifted soloists, Blake and Cheek always flourish as a team, bringing lustre to every tune with their lyrical unison melodies and beautifully harmonised theme statements.

Guardians of the Heart Machine – the debut release from tenor saxophonist Seamus Blake – symbolizes and protects the importance of creating music with feeling, blending his considerable experience in contemporary jazz with three exciting players originally from the French scene – pianist Tony Tixier, double bassist Florent Nisse and drummer Gautier Garrigue. In the ‘Guardians of the Heart Machine’, the anthemic drive and melodic hooks shows Blake’s indie-rock interest.

Some albums are named for a time, a place, an experience, or even a person. Others have a concept. Saxophonist Seamus Blake takes on concept with Bellwether, a term for leader or trendsetter. Born in England and raised in Vancouver, Canada, Blake has gained recognition by Down Beat and JazzTimes magazines, and finished first in the 2002 Thelonious Monk Jazz Competition. His associations include Mark Turner, Kurt Rosenwinkel, FLY and Victor Lewis. For Bellwether, Blake is accompanied by guitarist Lage Lund, pianist David Kikoski, bassist Matt Clohesy and drummer Bill Stewart. "A Beleza Que Vem," one of five Blake compositions, is an easygoing piece that features the leader on soprano saxophone, playing the melody in duet with Lund.

BRIDGES is a modern, Nordic jazz project that has a vision to construct musical bridges between Norway and other parts of the world. After releasing the successful debut album BRIDGES with Seamus Blake in 2016, and after two years of touring and playing concerts around Europe, it was clear that the ensembles constructive musical bridgework had to be continued. This album is the result.