Michael Blake (musician)

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Michael Blake (Born: May 19, 1964 in Montreal, Canada) is a saxophonist, composer, and arranger.

In the last decade, he has established a commanding presence in the jazz idiom. His work gracefully erases the borders between fields of music. In 2002 he was recognized in Down Beat magazine's 50th Annual Critics Poll TDWR (Talent Deserving Wider Recognition) categories for tenor sax, soprano sax and jazz artist of the year. He was also cited as a "new jazz star" in the July issue of US News & World Report.

His critically acclaimed debut CD, Kingdom of Champa, was released in 1997, a musical travelogue produced by Teo Macero. His follow-up album Drift, hailed by Jazzthing Magazine as Best CD of 2000, showcased his first effort as a producer.

Blake’s disc Elevated (Knitting Factory Records) may be his most traditional session to date. His most recent release, Blake Tartare, has received critical praise.