Alone Together – 2021

Seamus Blake

Hard-driving playing by Blake’s quartet

Seamus Blake is a top-notch tenor-saxophonist who was born in London, raised in Canada, attended the Berklee College of Music, won the Thelonious Monk International Saxophone Competition, worked regularly with the Mingus Big Band, and has long led his own groups.

Blake, who has led at least 16 albums since 1994, developed his own sound and high-energy style years ago out of the John Coltrane tradition.

On a fiery version of “Alone Together,” Blake is joined by pianist Alessandro Lanzoni, bassist Doug Weiss, and drummer Jorge Rossy, all of whom get solo space; Lanzoni in particular is outstanding.

-Scott Yanow