John Edward Blake Jr. (July 3, 1947[1] – August 15, 2014)[2] was an American jazz violinist from South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.[1] He performed most prominently as a sideman in groups led by Grover Washington Jr. (in the late 1970s) and McCoy Tyner (in the early 1980s),[1] as well as led his own groups.[3]
John Blake Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 3, 1947 South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | August 15, 2014 (aged 67) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation | Violinist |
| Instrument | Violin |
| Website | johnblakejr |
His son Johnathan Blake is an accomplished jazz drummer, bandleader and composer.
He died on August 15, 2014, from complications of multiple myeloma.[4]
Discography
editAs leader
edit- Maiden Dance (Gramavision, 1984)
- Twinkling of an Eye (Gramavision, 1985)
- Rhythm & BLU (Gramavision, 1986)
- Adventures of the Heart (Gramavision, 1987)
- A New Beginning (Gramavision, 1988)
- Quest (Sunnyside, 1992)
- Motherless Child (Artists Recording Collective, 2010)
As sideman
editWith James Newton
- James Newton (Gramavision, 1983)
- Luella (Gramavision, 1984)
- The African Flower (Blue Note, 1985)
With McCoy Tyner
- Horizon (Milestone, 1980)
- La Leyenda de La Hora (Columbia, 1981)
- Dimensions (Elektra Musician, 1984)
- Live at The Bijou (Kudu, 1977)
- Reed Seed (Motown, 1978)
- Paradise (Elektra, 1979)
With others
- Muhal Richard Abrams, Colors in Thirty-Third (Black Saint, 1987)
- Catalyst, Unity (Muse, 1974)
- Catalyst, A Tear and a Smile (Muse, 1976)
- Norman Connors, You Are My Starship (Buddah, 1976)
- Will Downing, Moods (Mercury, 1995)
- Carlos Garnett, Let This Melody Ring On (Muse, 1975)
- Damon Harris, Damon (Fantasy, 1978)
- George Howard, Asphalt Gardens (Palo Alto, 1982)
- Cecil McBee, Flying Out (India Navigation, 1982)
- Carmen McRae, I'm Coming Home Again (Buddah, 1980)
- Carmen McRae, Ms. Magic (Del Rack, 1986)
- Marvin Peterson, Children of the Fire (Sunrise, 1974)
- Vanessa Rubin, I'm Glad There Is You (Novus/RCA, 1994)
- Gilberto Santa Rosa, En Vivo Desde El Carnegie Hall (Sony, 1995)
- Avery Sharpe, Legends & Mentors (JKNM, 2008)
- Archie Shepp, Attica Blues (Impulse!/ABC, 1972)
- Archie Shepp, The Cry of My People (Impulse!/ABC, 1973)
- O. C. Smith, What'cha Gonna Do (Rendezvous, 1986)
- Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Brotherzone (P-Vine, 1999)
- Steve Turre, Fire and Ice (Stash, 1988)
- Steve Turre, Right There (Antilles, 1991)
- James Blood Ulmer, Harmolodic Guitar with Strings (DIW, 1997)
- Gerald Veasley, Look Ahead (Heads Up, 1992)
- Gerald Veasley, Soul Control (Inak, 1997)
- Kazumi Watanabe, The Best Performance (Better Days, 1982)
- Paula West, Come What May (Hi Horse, 2001)
- Buster Williams, Dreams Come True (Buddah, 1980)
References
edit- ^ a b c Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 262. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
- ^ Chinen, Nate (20 August 2014). "John Blake Jr., Versatile Jazz Violinist, Dies at 67". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
- ^ "John Blake Jr. Biography". All About Jazz. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
- ^ "Violinist John Blake Jr. Dead at 67". JazzTimes. Archived from the original on 3 August 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
Bibliography
edit- Richard Cook: Jazz Encyclopedia. Penguin, London, 2007, ISBN 978-0-14-102646-6
External links
edit- John Blake Jr. official site
- Interview Archived 2006-02-07 at the Wayback Machine
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