Michael Blanco Quintet
New York City, New York, United States | INDIE
Music
Press
Michael Blanco
In the Morning
Fresh Sound New Talent
By Forrest Dylan Bryant
This outstanding release certainly doesn’t sound like a debut album. Blanco, a repeat winner of the ASCAP Young Composer Award and a solid bassist to boot, has combined a dynamite sextet and 10 impressive modern-cool tunes for utterly winning results. The compositions share a dusky, imploring quality, with catchy, insistent hooks and compelling harmonies—several, such as the haunting “Point of View,” make the group sound like a miniature big band. It’s a remarkable introduction that leaves one eager to hear more.
--Forrest Dylan Bryant
- Jazz Times
Michael Blanco: No Time Like The Present (2013)
By EDWARD BLANCO, Published: March 29, 2013
A talented in-demand Broadway/jazz bassist, Michael Blanco's No Time Like The Present announces his second album as leader presenting a collection of refreshing new jazz originals offered by a dynamic quintet that features veteran saxophonist John Ellis and New York guitarist Jonathan Kreisberg among the cast. The two-time recipient of the ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Award, designs a sparkling session of riveting modern-style jazz not to be missed. Though it's Blanco's compositional skills that carry the date on this outing, the bassist's strong performance throughout is not to be dismissed as his solo performance on "Postcard (for solo bass)" so aptly demonstrates.
Overlooking the intimidating title ("Dutch Kills") of the opening track, the music reveals an elegant light texture marked by glowing solo statements from members of the band. The title piece is fast-paced and up-tempo featuring Ellis and Kreisberg trading salvos in the first burner of the disc. "You Really Shouldn't" follows in much the same vein this time featuring pianist David Cook and drummer Mark Ferber providing the energy. Propelled by torrid tenor solos and strong guitar riffs, the fire seems to burn brightest on the hard-driving "RSVP," one of the bassist's finest compositions. Another outstanding score is the spacious "Smithlike" featuring a superb bass solo from the leader and highlighting the saxophonist on the soprano.
All is not hot and steamy however, as warm-toned solos from both guitarist and bassist bolster the light and beautiful "Midnight," one of several mid-tempo, even mellow mood pieces on the album. The enchanting "Emily's Wedding" is a perfect example of some more tasteful light jazz perfect for a relaxing setting. Perhaps as a tip of the hat to saxophonist Ellis, the closing number, appropriately titled "Ellis Island" serves as the swan song for the reed man but also includes dynamic solos from the guitarist as well as the leader.
Michael Blanco is certainly one of the young guns in the jazz scene today and with No Time Like the Present brings the background bass to the front line of jazz. Comparisons to some of the finest jazz bassist in modern jazz such as Christian McBride, John Patitucci, Gary Peacock and Charlie Haden to name a few, are inevitable. His approach and clever charts can only serve to elevate his music and cement his reputation as an excellent composer and a bassist of note.
Track Listing: Dutch Kills; No Time Like The Present; You Really Shouldn't; Midnight; RSVP; Smithlike; Emily's Wedding; Postcard (for solo bass); Ellis Island.
Personnel: Michael Blanco: bass; John Ellis: tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone; Jonathan Kreisberg: guitar; David Cook: piano; Mark Ferber: drums.
Record Label: 19/8 - All About Jazz
Bassist Michael Blanco understands the meaning of originality—tastefully rolling out your creative vision while keeping the customer satisfied. On No Time Like the Present (Nineteen- Eight), all nine tracks are by Blanco—a high-risk move, since originals by definition are foreign to the ear and often drag on. But Blanco has a skilled writing touch—he twice has received the ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Award. He also has assembled a terrific ensemble for this CD. Saxophonist John Ellis and guitarist Jonathan Kreisberg are the front line. Joining Blanco in the rhythm section are David Cook on piano and Mark Feber on drums. Blanco's playing is strong, and his solos are solid and never overstay their welcome. And the sound of Ellis and Kreisberg together is gorgeous. A beautiful album with compositional depth and technical maturity.
-- Marc Meyers, JazzWax.com
- Jazz Review
Discography
No Time Like the Present, Nineteen-Eight Records, 2013
In the Morning, Fresh Sound/New Talent, 2006
Photos
Bio
"Bassist Michael Blanco understands the meaning of originality - tastefully rolling out your creative vision while keeping the customer satisfied...A beautiful album with compositional depth and technical maturity."
--Jazz Wax
"Michael Blanco is certainly one of the young guns in the jazz scene today and with 'No Time Like the Present' brings the background bass to the front line of jazz."
--All About Jazz
The Michael Blanco Quintet features John Ellis on tenor and soprano saxophone, Jonathan Kreisberg on guitar, David Cook on piano, Mark Ferber on drums, and Michael Blanco on bass/compositions.
Michael Blanco is a bassist and composer living in New York City. He is a two-time recipient of the ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Award, with two critically-acclaimed CD's as a bandleader. His debut album "In the Morning" was praised by Jazz Times magazine as "a remarkable introduction that leaves one eager to hear more" with Michael's compositions having a "dusky, imploring quality, with catchy, insistent hooks and compelling harmonies", while Bass World magazine declared that "His approach to composition is fresh and the arrangements are lush and compelling". Michael's second album, "No Time Like the Present", was released on March 19, 2013 on the Nineteen-Eight record label: the new album features John Ellis, Jonathan Kreisberg, David Cook, and Mark Ferber, as well as nine new original compositions.
Since moving to New York City in January 2000, Michael has performed and recorded with a wide variety of artists at the forefront of the contemporary jazz scene. Some of his favorite collaborators have been: saxophonists John Ellis, Rich Perry and Will Vinson; guitarist Jonathan Kreisberg; pianists David Cook, Aaron Goldberg, and Adam Birnbaum, and drummers Mark Ferber, Ari Hoenig, and Tomas Fujiwara. He has been a member of bands led by Alan Ferber, Bob Reynolds, Shayna Steele, Doug Wamble, Patrick Cornelius, John Chin, Sarah Tolar, Shara Worden, and Frank Basile - among many others.
Michael has twice been selected by the U.S. Department of State to be an artistic representative for the United States abroad. First, in 2001, he toured South America, Central America, and the Caribbean as part of the Kennedy Center's Jazz Ambassador program. Then, in 2008, he toured the Middle East under the auspices of Jazz at Lincoln Center.
Although he spends most of his time in New York City, Michael has also had the pleasure of performing in Bahrain, Bolivia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Kuwait, Nicaragua, Oman, Panama, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Venezuela, and
Links
