Blake, Alex (21st December 1951-Present)

He is a bassist, trumpeter and songwriter born Alejandro Blake Feuron Junior in Panama whose family moved to Brooklyn, New York, when he was seven years old.

His first instrument learned was the trumpet but after his father had a dream that the bass would be his key to success he began playing that under his musical instruction. Showing a major talent for playing the bass he began his professional career when he was twelve years old and continued private studies in strings, composition, music theory and arranging.

He began collaborating with artists such as Mongo Santamaria and Celia Cruz and when he was sixteen he found himself as a member of Sun Ra and his Arkestra. A year later and from then on in he was sharing the stage in the company of acclaimed artists like Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz, Sonny Rollins, Woody Shaw, Betty Carter, Patti LaBelle, Pharaoh Sanders, Randy Weston and Freddie Hubbard and soon became one of the most sought after bass musicians in the business.

In the 1970s he ventured into jazz fusion and became a “drummer’s bassist” where his playing would assist them by keeping time.

Appearing with countless bands and artists in the studio, including his own Alex Blake Quartet and Alex Blake Quintet, he has been heard on albums that include Hot Water by Jimmy Buffett , Endlessly by Dizzy Gillespie, Whispers and Promise by Earl Klugh , Love Will Find a Way by Pharoah Sanders, My Brother the Wind, Vol. 2 and It’s After the End of the World by Sun Ra, Spirit the Power of Music and Zep Tepi by Randy Weston, Bop-do Wop, Vocalese, Live in Tokyo and Bodies and Soul by Manhattan Transfer among many others.

In the 2000s he has been heard playing bass in the 2001 movie Wendigo and still currently tours with Randy Weston and Pharaoh Sanders as well as being a bandleader.

Sources:

Blake, Alex (21st December 1951-Present)

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