Saxophonist and composer Dan Blake has developed a wide-ranging
career as a contemporary composer, performer and educator who “regards
tradition as a welcoming playground best approached with a sense of
wonder and adventure” (The Boston Globe). Blake’s music has been called
“stunning” (All About Jazz), and he was dubbed a “virtuoso” (The New
York Times) for his work touring and recording both with his own
projects and with luminaries of jazz and popular music like three-time
Grammy winner Esperanza Spalding, NEA Jazz Master Anthony Braxton, and
Velvet Underground founding member John Cale.
His most recent recording "Da Fé" for Sunnyside Records was called “One
of the most relevant and musically rich albums of 2021 in any style of
music” (Alan Young). For this concert the trio will perform music from
“The Digging” (Sunnyside Records), which the Ottawa Citizen described
as “a creative essay on what can be done in the saxophone trio format”.
He appeared previously at Chez Hanny with Dan Blake.
Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, bassist Fred Randolph
started taking ukulele lessons as a young child. At age 11, inspired by
Jimi Hendrix, he switched to the
guitar. After listening to Howard Roberts and Jimmy Smith in high
school, he became fascinated with the unique harmonies of jazz, and his
musical direction was forever altered. He began to seriously study and
play jazz, first on the guitar, and later, on the saxophone and trumpet
during his college years at UC Berkeley.
His instrumental epiphany occurred, however, when he was working on his
Master’s Degree in Composition at CSU Hayward, he fell under
the spell of the bass, captivated by its endless possibilities and
sounds. The acoustic and electric basses are now his primary
instruments.
He has performed with Maria Muldaur, Dan Hicks, Contemporary Jazz Orchestra, Collective West Jazz Orchestra,
Charged Particles, Sandy Cressman, Mads Tolling, Michael Smolens, Vince Lateano, Fil Lorenz Big Band, Roberta Donnay,
Bobbe Norris and Larry Dunlap, Kenny Washington, Gaea Schell, Marcos Silva, Silvestre Martinez, Michael O’Neill, Susan Chen,
Ian Carey, Scotty Wright, Dmitri Matheny, Barry Finnerty, Richard Howell, Bob Kenmotsu, Steve Carter, Ian Dogole, Calvin Keys,
Paul McCandless, Melanie O’Reilly, Sheldon Brown Trio, Al Molina, Terrence Brewer, Akira Tana, and Frank Martin.
His fourth CD as a leader, "Mood Walk" was released in 2020.
Fred appeared here previously with David Widelock, Ian Carey,
Homespun Trio, and the Fred Randolph Quintet.
Tim Bulkley is a drummer and artist located in the Northern
California area.
Tim is known for a musical, intuitive approach to drumming. He grew up
taking piano lessons, taking art classes, singing in choirs, and
studying the drums. His professional career as a musician started early
and has stayed a constant for over 25 years. Tim spent the years of
2006 - 2017 living and working
in Brooklyn NY & 2000 - 2006 living and working in San Francisco
CA.
He has played and recorded with artists including Dayna Stephens,
Michelle Amador, Goh Nakamura, Evan Francis, Anton Schwartz, The
Invisible Cities, John Lester, Postmodern Jukebox, Adam Platt, Stacey
Kent, Boz Scaggs, Peter Bernstein, Telepathy, Wil Blades, Dandelion
Dance Company, and BodyVox Dance.
He appeared previously at Chez Hanny with Julian Pollack, MCH
Quartet, Jeff Buenz, Dan Blake, Gatekeeper, and Loren Stillman.