I'm endlessly fascinated by this tune by my the late-great Steve Lacy, with whom I studied years ago. This is an arrangement I normally play solo but decided to produce a Covid-era collaboration to stay in touch with my dear friends both of whom are extremely deep musical explorers - bassist Jorge Roeder and percussionist Richie Barshay...

Cliches (feat. Jorge Roeder, Richie Barshay)

A composition based on the story of the Buddha's maternal aunt who raised the young Siddhartha after his mother passed away.
Here is an article I wrote on the piece as well as a video featuring the great Kavita Shah (voice) and Julian Shore (piano): https://buddhistglobalrelief.org/gotamis-gone-a-song-for-the-buddhas-childhood-caregiver/

Gotami's Gone

Featuring the Julian Lage Group: Julian Lage (guitar), Dan Blake (saxophone), Jorge Roeder (bass), Aristides Rivas (cuatro), Tupac Mantilla (percussion)

What's Mine Is Yours

First used in a video on "Citizen's Assembly" for Extinction Rebellion.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyELoF2xIsI
This track is Creative Commons!

Film Music Sample

Radio segment in support of "Got My Wings" (Adhyaropa Records, 2025). We discussed the history of this project, Jarvis Jay Masters' case and recent move to San Luis Obispo (where the radio station is located), and my teaching at John Jay College (CUNY). We also listened to most of the record together!

Radio Segment on The Rock (San Luis Obispo)

The Gentle Fox

Terri Hron (tenor recorder); Juan Parra Cancina (live 8-channel electronics)

First Beginnings

Movement 1 - Rush

A layered piece on "We See" by Thelonious Monk!

danblake

Pinned to spotlight

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