Ran Blake - All That Is Tied
Facts
 
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| Artist(s) | Ran Blake |
| Studio | Tompkins Square |
| Release Date | March 7, 2006 |
| UPC Code | 856075001233 |
| Buy this item | $13.98 at Amazon.com As of Dec 1 20:56 EST (details) 1 Audio CD, Usually ships in 24 hours, |
About Ran Blake - All That Is Tied
Ran Blake recorded All That Is Tied, his 35th album, exactly 40 years since cutting his very first solo piano LP for the ESP label in 1965. Marking that anniversary, and his 70th birthday, the master pianist and composer revisits selections from his entire career, bringing new life to an extraordinary and unique body of work. Album Description
Tracks
- All That Is Tied
- Breakthru
- Birmingham, U.S.A.
- Thursday
- How 'Bout That
- Impresario of Death
- Sontagism
- Epilogue
- Latter Rain Christian Fellowship
- Field Cry
- Wende
- Breakthru
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User Reviews
Average user review:
(1 reviews)| |  | fascinating |  |
To my shame, I guess, I had never heard of Ran Blake when Amazon's recommendations computer came up with All That Is Tied. Blake's portrait caught my eye (a face I would sooner have associated with a stern Dutch vicar than with an American jazz pioneer), and the product description seemed interesting. So what the hell, I gave the thing a mouse click.
Playing the disc for the first time, I immediately forgot that stern face and was captured (no, make that mesmerized) by the strangest piano music I'd heard in years. Wasn't quite sure I liked it, but I knew I would play it again and again, and that it would grow and grow. And I did, and it did.
All That Is Tied is devoid of hummable tunes, but rich in melody and harmony. The music is direct, sometimes even harsh, but always compelling and ultimately even soothing as song follows song to form a 55 minute masterpiece.
Is this jazz? Oh yes, unmistakably so. Every song has a marvelous sense of freedom about it, and the gospelly 'Latter Rain Christian Fellowship' will make you bounce in your chair with swing. But there's also an undeniable influence of (modern) classical composers like Ives, Messiaen, and Lou Harrison. Oh, and more than a hint of Bartok, especially the Microcosmos piano cycle.
This is definitely music for late at night, though not quite music to relax by, even if it does get you in a state I could only describe as (oops, big word) peace. It will astound you, perhaps even confuse you, but you will instantly be familiar with it. And now I'm out of paradoxities. Buy this album, it'll be money well spent. December 15, 2007
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