Label: P&M Records, 2026
Personnel - Michael Blake: tenor and soprano saxophone; Gary Versace: piano; Ben Allison: bass; Michael Sarin: drums.
Canadian-born, New York-based saxophonist and composer Michael Blake gathers a quartet of longtime collaborators for a slightly unsettling jazz session centered on Halloween, a holiday of imagination and transformation built around costumes, community, and the unexpected. Joining Blake here are pianist Gary Versace, bassist Ben Allison, and drummer Michael Sarin—all of whom have played and recorded with the saxophonist in various musical contexts. All nine compositions on the album are covers associated with Halloween, with the exception of the last track, Blake's "The Creep", a shape-shifter showing many faces in minor mode with a bluesy feel.
The opener, "Halloween", slides in with mystery-induced suspense, leading to an atmospheric crescendo dreamily texturized by jagged piano chords in the high register. It keeps us engaged and alert as it moves forward in a fluid 5/4 time signature, strengthened by Blake's command of phrase and tone—he offers a haunting improvisation delivered with pure instinct and multiphonic impact.
"Stalking Monster" and "Anatomy of a Murder" are Duke Ellington compositions, the former from Night Creature and the latter from Otto Preminger's film of the same name. "Stalking Monster" features tonally contrasting piano playing over hi-hat pulsation, creating eerie undertones before morphing into a 4/4 swing in the best that jazz tradition has to offer. An empowering feeling comes from the soloists: Blake is soulfully articulate while Versace introduces rich motivic ideas. This continuous fluidity, without straining to make a point, carries over to "Anatomy of a Murder", a blues where bass and piano start in tandem, filling the lower register with gorgeous groove.
The gears shift considerably on "The Great Pumpkin Waltz"—Vince Guaraldi's tune from the 1966 Halloween television special It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown—here delivered with harmonic sophistication and passionate lyricism. On soprano saxophone, Blake exudes clarity of technique and natural phrasing, switching to tenor on the following tune, "Transylvanian Lullaby", the main haunting theme from Mel Brooks's 1974 comedy Young Frankenstein. Allison and Sarin build tension at the outset, and the piece becomes gently brushed after brief, well-devised staccato moves. The rhythm section compellingly swings in support of Blake's nimble solo. There's also a slow, rubato rendition of "Witchcraft", Cy Coleman's tune popularized by Frank Sinatra and the Bill Evans Trio, where brooding melodicism comes to the fore.
The chemistry between Blake and his rhythm team is undeniable throughout, even when the energy dips a bit after the first couple of tracks.
Favorite Tracks:
01 - Halloween ► 02 - Stalking Monster ► 04 - Transylvanian Lullaby