Michael Blake, Drift - 58m 20s

Tracks & Durations

1. Drift	3:24
2. Mean as a Swan	5:02
3. Toque	3:55
4. The Creep	7:06
5. Lady Red	5:44
6. Teo Walks	2:08
7. Duty Free Suite	11:28
8. Dry Socket	3:09
9. Afro Blake	6:55
10. Maria	5:08
11. Residence	4:14

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Review

Brooklyn-based saxophonist Michael Blake revels in a restless new-fangled modernism, drawing upon jungle Ellingtonia and African pop, ambient and retro-lounge music, and even Texas twang. That he is able to maintain an even keel as he navigates styles on the aptly titled Drift owes to his wit and resourcefulness as a writer and his passion as a music fan. Blake, who produced the album, makes full use of the aural canvas, keeping the margins alive with textural effects. Unfortunately, a certain facileness dogs Drift, which features an expansive cast, including pianist Frank Kimbrough, trumpeter Ron Horton, and bassist Ben Allison--like Blake, members of the Jazz Composer Collective. On the 11-minute "Duty Free Suite," a travelogue, Blake's channeling of Donald Byrd, Charles Mingus, and Eddie Harris fails to resonate. Known for his work with the Lounge Lizards, he doesn't have much impact on tenor, less on soprano, leaving it to lively sidemen--including guitarist Tony Scherr, tuba player Marcus Rojas, slide trumpeter Steve Bernstein, and drummer Matt Wilson--to stoke the music with personality. --Lloyd Sachs

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