I'm picky about saxophonists. There are plenty of contemporary good ones but great ones tell a story on their horn with seductive determination, confidence and conviction. And when it comes to recording albums, taste is everything, especially regarding song choices. [Photo above of Ron Blake by Thorsten Roth]
Ron Blake is a saxophonist who checks off all these boxes. His new album, Mistaken Identity (7Ten33 Productions), is superb and one of the most gratifying albums of the year. Too many artists take on the tone or phrasing of their mentors and heroes. Not Ron. What you hear is all his own and it's liquid bliss.
Born in the Santurce neighborhood of San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 1965, Ron grew up in St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands and began studying guitar at age 8. He switched to the saxophone at 10 and, at 14, he left home to attend the National Music Camp in Interlochen, Mich., for three consecutive summers. He remained there to enroll at the Interlochen Arts Academy, where he completed his junior and senior years of high school.
Then it was off to Northwestern, where he studied with Frederick Hemke, a virtuoso classical saxophonist. After graduation, Ron taught at the University of South Florida before moving to New York. He spent five years in trumpeter Roy Hargrove's quintet and seven years with trumpeter Art Farmer's group.
Ron formed his own quartet in 1997, which included pianist Shedrick Mitchell, bassist Reuben Rogers, and drummer Greg Hutchinson. He has made more than 40 recordings as a leader and with his contemporaries as well as with legendary artists Benny Golson, Jimmy Smith, Dianne Reeves, Shirley Horn, Abbey Lincoln, Betty Carter, Art Taylor and Art Farmer.
On stage, he has performed with jazz greats Stanley Turrentine, Bobby Hutcherson, Roy Haynes and Ray Brown. Since 2007, he has been on the faculty at New York's Juilliard School of Music.
On Mistaken Identity, Ron plays tenor and baritone saxophone. He isn't concerned with speed and hard blowing. What you hear is a wonderful tone, artful technique and enormous sensitivity. He's joined by guitarist Bobby Broom (who sounds better than ever), bassists Nat Reeves and Reuben Rogers (on different tracks), and Kobie Watkins on drums. [Photo above of Bobby Broom, courtesy of Facebook]
The tracks are Duke Pearson's Is That So?, Sonny Rollins's Allison, Johnny Griffin's When We Were One, Bobby Broom's No Hype Blues, his own Beyond Yesterday's Tomorrows and Grace Ann, Benny Golson's Stablemates, Reuben Rogers's To Be and percussionist Victor Provost's Mistaken Identity.
This album is for jazz fans who have zero patience for electronic gimmicks, tired songbook standards or cliches. It's pure beauty executed at a high level with soul, intellect and the players' full focus on engaging the jazz listener, who Ron and his band assume are smart and sophisticated. If that's you, you'll welcome this one with open arms. [Photo above of Ron Blake, courtesy of Spotify]
JazzWax tracks: You'll find Ron Blake's Mistaken Identity (7Ten33 Productions) on streaming platforms and here.
JazzWax note: Kudos to the clever album designer. The cover reminded me of Jackie McLean's Jacknife and Art Blakey's Indestructible:
JazzWax tracks: Here's a promo for the album...
Here's Is That So?...
Here's Grace Ann, with Ron on baritone saxophone...
And here's When We Were One...
