At first blush,
Ran Blake
might seem an odd choice to perform tunes written by
Horace Silver
. But, as this recording shows,
Blake
's approach is so encompassing that he can transform the simple blues-drenched melodies of
Silver
into something darker and more sophisticated. The best pieces are those in which
plays alone. His singular vision carefully gets inside a song and gently turns it inside out. Alto saxophonist
James Merenda
and electric guitarist
David "Knife" Fabris
, former students at the New England Conservatory of Music where
teaches, often seem superfluous.
Fabris
seems to blend nicely with the pianist's lines while
Merenda
sometimes seems intimidated and relegated to a supporting role. Nonetheless, the saxophonist does emerge from the shadows occasionally to show considerable potential. Four of the most interesting tracks are the alternate versions of
"Ecaroh"
and
"Song for My Father,"
each of which shows the extraordinary talents of
as an interpreter. ~ Steven Loewy