About
We’re excited to release this month’s album from the Blake Lyman Quintet! “Eponymous,” the debut record by the Blake Lyman Quintet, is an elegant collection of melodic modern jazz. Blake is an underappreciated tenor saxophone player and composer originally from northern California, and he has assembled an all star line up of Portland talent to breathe life into this collection of forward thinking modern jazz compositions. Noah Bernstein, also on saxophone, has toured the world with experimental indie-pop group TuneYards and currently plays in 90’s throwback R & B group Shy Girls as well as avant-garde jazz ensemble Get Smashing Love Power. Keyboard player Andrew Oliver is best known for his work with the Kora Band, a West African and Jazz fusion group, as well as the award winning Canadian-American collective Tunnel Six. On “Eponymous,” the Blake Lyman Quintet create a lush, accessible soundscape that is both sophisticated and extremely lyrical. Available online and at Music Millennium May 15th; CD Release Show June 2nd at the Blue Monk on SE Belmont.
Personnel
Blake Lyman, tenor sax
Noah Bernstein, alto sax
Andrew Oliver, piano
Arcellus Sykes, bass
Sam Foulger, drums
Reviews
“Melodically driven and rhythmically headstrong, the sophomore release of tenor saxophonist Blake Lyman is the kind of music that descends from Clifford Jordan’s noirish hard bop of the 70s. Lyman’s quintet, which is rounded out by Noah Bernstein on alto sax, Andrew Oliver on piano & keys, Arcellus Sykes on bass and Sam Foulger on drums, is firmly rooted in a post-bop environment, but it’s the same cinematic treatment of melodies and definitive, yet flowing percussion that typified some of Jordan’s best work. Nice follow-up for Lyman, who was equally impressive on his debut, Anthology, For Now.” – Dave Sumner