Home » Jazz Musicians » Seamus Blake

Seamus Blake

New York based tenor saxophonist/composer Seamus Blake is recognized as one of the finest and most creative young players in jazz.

John Scofield , who hired him for his “Quiet Band,” calls him “extraordinary, a total saxophonist.” In February 2002, he took first place in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition in Washington D.C. As the winner, he performed with Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock.

Seamus Blake was born in England and raised in Vancouver, Canada. At age 21, while still a student at Boston's prestigious Berklee College, he was asked to record with legendary drummer Victor Lewis. After graduation, he moved to New York, where he rapidly established himself on the New York jazz scene.

Seamus has released six albums on Criss Cross Records, from his 1993 debut The Call to the 1995 premiere of the "Bloomdaddies," a “funky, alternative grunge jazz band”, to Way Out Willy, which was released in February 2007. He has also recorded as a leader for the Fresh Sound label. "Stranger Things have Happened" (now available on itunes) features Kurt Rosenwinkel as well as Jorge Rossy and Larry Grenadier from the Brad Mehldau trio. Fresh Sound also recorded a Bloomdaddies cd, " Mosh for Lovers" in 2001. In 2009 the Italian label, Jazz Eyes, released "Live in Italy", Seamus' most successful cd to date. It received 4 1/2 stars from Downbeat.

Blake is a long standing member of the Grammy nominated group, the Mingus Big Band, and is featured on the last six albums. He continues to play and record with the Victor Lewis Quintet, as well as with Bill Stewart and Kevin Hays. He has also performed and/or recorded with Franco Ambrosetti, Dave Douglas, Jane Monheit, Kenny Barron, Sam Yahel, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Pat Metheny, Joe Lovano, Joshua Redman, Brad Meldhau, Larry Grenadier, Wayne Krantz, Jorge Rossy, Jack Dejohnette, Brian Blade, Jeremy Pelt, Eric Reed, David Kikoski, Al Foster and many others.

Most recently Seamus has been touring with the Seamus Blake Electric Band which includes Scott Kinsey, Tim Lefebvre and Jordy Rossy.

Joel Haynes: The Return

Read "The Return" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
December 2, 2023

The Return! is certainly well-named, as it is drummer Joel Haynes' third album as leader of his own group but the first in fifteen years, following Cellar Music recordings The Time Is Now (2005) and Transitions (2008). During his long absence from a recording studio, however, Toronto-based Haynes has managed to stay busy, performing with many of the finest jazz artists in Canada and appearing at jazz festivals and other events in North and South America, the Caribbean and Europe. ...

Album Review

Alexander Claffy: Music From Big Orange

Read "Music From Big Orange" reviewed by Pierre Giroux

by Pierre Giroux
August 31, 2023

Alexander Claffy has released an impressive album entitled “Music From Big Orange" which showcases his skills as a bassist and composer, and captures the essence of contemporary jazz while paying homage to the rich traditions of the genre. Switching seamlessly from acoustic bass to electric, depending on the sonic flow of any given tune, it is clear that Claffy's bass playing is the foundation upon which the entire album is built. On this orange-coloured vinyl LP, ...

Liner Notes

Conrad Herwig: Obligation

by C. Andrew Hovan
April 17, 2023

Jazz fans tend to be fanatical about those artists that most directly speak to their own musical tastes. Over time, a sense of familiarity with the musical personalities of their iconic favorites becomes entrenched, followed by categorization based on style and genre. Those already familiar with Conrad Herwig's musical endeavors over the past 20 years are likely to speak to his great versatility, at home in both jazz and Afro-Cuban musical circles as he is in leading his own varied ...

Liner Notes

Seamus Blake: Bellwether

by C. Andrew Hovan
February 20, 2023

The music speaks for itself. This timeworn axiom has often served as a suggestion that there's an intangible aspect to music's universal language that is somehow beyond mere words. In some cases this may be true, but on the other hand, this outlook has occasionally in the past served as a viable excuse for justifying music of a somewhat dubious nature.In recently talking with saxophonist Seamus Blake by phone from Vancouver, it occurred to me that his “less ...

Liner Notes

Opus 5: Introducing Opus 5

by Josef Woodard
January 31, 2023

The Evident Charms and Secret Powers of Five For all the myriad varieties and contextual possibilities under the rubric of what makes for a valid jazz group, there is something distinctively powerful and tradition-enriched about the number five. Smaller groups tighten up the focus on individual voices involved, and often frame a specified protagonist leader, while larger groupings accentuate the greater good of the team. By contrast, the quintet format, especially in the conventional format of trumpet and tenor sax ...

Album Review

Opus 5: Swing On This

Read "Swing On This" reviewed by Paul Beard

by Paul Beard
August 4, 2022

Recorded in September 2021, at the Samurai Hotel Recording Studio under the direction of Mike Marciano, this is the fifth album from contemporary jazz group, Opus 5. Entitled Swing On This, it comprises eight tracks that average around seven minutes each. Hailing from the Netherlands, Opus 5 is a stylish quintet made up of Seamus Blake on tenor saxophone and Alex Sipiagin on trumpet, with drums by Donald Edwards, bass in the hands of Boris Kozlov and last ...

Album Review

ARC Trio and the John Daversa Big Band: ARCeology: The Music of MSM Schmidt

Read "ARCeology: The Music of MSM Schmidt" reviewed by Jim Worsley

by Jim Worsley
June 10, 2022

What would happen if fusion, already a hybrid of musical genres, was compounded with the sound of big-band? Further, that both genres were stretched well outside the box? An ensemble of bright musical minds came together on just such a project. The results could have been the disastrous soup of too many cooks in the kitchen or, perhaps, something special and creative. Fortunately, they served up an entree which is very much the latter. It starts with quality ...

Recording

Saxophonists Seamus Blake/Chris Cheek Release "Reeds Ramble" -- CD Release Party at Smalls in March

Source: Dan Blake
January 31, 2014

Seamus Blake & Chris Cheek Celebrate New CD Reeds Ramble With 3 Nights @ Smalls March 13, 14 & 15 Smalls Jazz Club 183 West 10th Street Greenwich Village 183 W 10th St New York, NY 10014 About Reeds Ramble Seamus Blake, Thelonious Monk Competition winner in 2002, teams up with former Bloomdaddies band member Chris Cheek for his latest outing on the Criss ...
read more

Performance / Tour

Tenor Sax Standout Seamus Blake Performs at Berklee's 939 Cafe on Wednesday, December 7

Source: MassJazz: Jazz in Massachusetts
December 6, 2011

Jazz saxophonist Seamus Blake is performing at the Red Room at Cafe 939 in Boston on Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets to the performance are $10 general admission and can be purchased online. The concert is part of a new NPR/ WBGO Jazz 88 FM concert series called The Check Out—Live at Berklee, which features New York-based critically acclaimed alumni from Berklee College of Music. The performances is broadcast live in New York to WBGO Jazz 88.3 ...
read more

Music Industry

Rico Reeds Signs Tenor Saxophonist and Composer Seamus Blake

Source: Michael Ricci
October 26, 2011

FARMINGDALE, NY: Rico Reeds is proud to announce the signing of tenor saxophonist/composer Seamus Blake, one of the finest contemporary jazz artists today. As a leader, Blake released six albums on Criss Cross Records, including his 1993 debut, The Call. He is a long-standing member of the Grammy-nominated Mingus bands and continues to play and record with Bill Stewart, Kevin Hays, David Kikoski and Alex Sipiagin, and the Victor Lewis Quintet. He is also a member of BANN, led by ...
read more

186

Recording

BANN - As You Like (Indie Europe/Zoom, 2011)

Source: Music and More by Tim Niland
July 30, 2011

This is a collaborative unit consisting of Seamus Blake on tenor saxophone, Oz Noy on guitar, Jay Anderson on bass and Adam Nussbaum on drums. The combine to make an interesting mix of electric and acoustic sounds, clearly based in post-bop jazz, but incorporating elements of fusion and electronic music as well. Opening with the standard “All the Things You Are," the performance features up-tempo saxophone with electronic flourishes. Blake's tenor has a potent force and is accompanied by lengthy, ...
read more

201

Recording

Bann (Seamus Blake/Jay Anderson/Oz Noy/Adam Nussbaum) - As You Like (2011)

Source: Something Else!
February 9, 2011

By S. Victor Aaron BANN is a jazz supergroup of sorts, consisting of saxophonist Seamus Blake, bassist Jay Anderson, guitarist Oz Noy and drummer Adam Nussbaum. We know how supergroups can be hit-or-miss affairs; either egos clash and the different voices don't click together, or they come together naturally to create something that can be very special. BANN didn't just come together for a one-off project on some whim; the group has toured together at festivals and jazz clubs across ...
read more

165

Recording

Seamus Blake Quartet Release Double CD Set Live in Italy

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
March 18, 2009

Hailing from the hotbed of New York City’s jazz scene can never hurt the chances of a musician getting some attention, especially if that musician plays like Seamus Blake. Blake is recognized as one of the finest and most creative young players in jazz and with the release of the double album set Live in Italy, Blake and his quartet are positioned to stake a claim to their own slice of jazz history.

John Scofield calls him “extraordinary, a total ...
read more

120

Performance / Tour