JOHNATHAN BLAKE & PENTAD- “MY LIFE MATTERS”

JOHNATHAN BLAKE & PENTAD – “MY LIFE MATTERS”
   “THE AMAZING ALL STAR BAND & THE NEW PROJECT OF A MASTER JAZZ DRUMMER”
 
 The versatile and powerful American drummer composer and bandleader Johnathan Blake
 is already one of the younger stars of jazz  known to the Greek audiences from his live appearances in the country with formations of various other stars of this music but never for performances with his own band!   The innovative virtuoso -who fascinated us recently in Athens alongside legend Kenny Barron - and his incredible band Pentad will present from October 17th till the 20th at Half Note Jazz Club  their new much anticipated work  that is due to be released this September by Blue Note Records. In the club’s 45th milestone season the impeccable artist introduces his all-star “Pentad” band  a group obviously  named  as such after the (Greek -pentada or group of five)!   In this European tour and these concerts Johnathan Blake presents his new and most personal work to date according to him entitled “My Life Matters”!
             Born in Philadelphia - the birthplace of many jazz legends - Johnathan Blake grew up in a family  related to music.  After all his late father John Blake Jr. was one of the greatest jazz violinists of all time!  Johnathan started playing drums at the age of 10 mostly with various youth ensembles.  After studying at Patterson University and got his Masters in composition from Rutgers University while working at the same time professionally with artists like Roy Hargrove David Sanchez or Oliver Lake Big Band.  Aside from his incredible playing his gift in composing was already standing out and in 2006 he was awarded the ASCAP Young Composers Award! Although his recording with various artists had begun in 1996 it was in the 2000’s that he began touring with different great artists and orchestras.  He joined the Mingus Big Band (and was nominated for a Grammy)  he played with Roy Hargrove Randy Brecker  Russell Malone and later with Tom Harrell’s band he recorded and toured the great Dr. Lonnie Smith and many others and for the last 15 years with Kenny Barron!  It was about the same time that he had started to create his own bands as a leader and in 2012 he releasedhis first solo album entitled “The Eleventh Hour”. Various excellent records followed and in 2021 Blake joined Blue Note Records and created the Pentad band with which he released two excellent albums in recent years. The last of them entitled “Passage” dedicated to the memory of his late father.  His upcoming and much expected album “My life matters” contains and is inspired by the injustice against his fellow people of color and all the emotions that continues to trigger until the present time. 
            Through his very innovative approach to music Johnathan carries the musical tradition of the people who inspired him along the way but takes it further with a fresh sound full of dynamic swing ballads from the heart or particularly daring rhythmic patterns.  From October 17th till 20th at the intimate stage of the Half Note these first shows of Johnathan Blake‘s band in Athens will find a very suitable spot and it is most certain that will be discussed for long time. We can’t wait …
 
www.johnathanblake.com
JOHNATHAN BLAKE – drums
JOHN ELLIS – saxophone ewi
FABIAN ALMAZAN – piano electronics
JALEN BAKER – vibraphone
BEN STREET – bass

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