Alex Blake – Bass

Bassist Alex Blake, born in Panama City, Panama, has a revolutionary playing style and technique distinctly his own. He combines innovative strumming, rapid lyrical notations and percussive slaps on his bass to create a unique and compelling sound. Some have called him “an entire rhythm section”.

Alex Blake’s talent is measured by the plenitude of masters who have called upon him over his more than forty-year career for his inventive and passionate playing. In addition to having played with Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, Sun Ra, Art Blakey, Freddie Hubbard, McCoy Tyner, Lenny White, Stan Getz, Harry Belafonte, and the Manhattan Transfer.  Alex is a long-time member of NEA Jazz Master Randy Weston’s African Rhythms.  In demand for recording, festivals, concerts and clubs both nationally and internationally, Alex leads his own group, The Alex Blake Collective, comprised of notable, eclectic musicians.

(biographical information from www.alexblakebass.com)

I love this album. The Manhattan Transfer took a load of Jazz classics and rearranged them for four vocals. This process including Jon Hendricks lyrics for solos by people like Sonny Rollins, Benny Golson, Curtis Fuller and others. This tune features Cheryl Bentyne singing a Benny Bailey solo. Underpinning it all is the double bass of Alex Blake. Just solid walking bass. There are a couple of fills that may trip you up but it’s pretty generic stuff. The strength is in the time feel.