Ran Blake in Kalamazoo, Monday, 4/30, 2 p.m.

[Lazaro Vega]

Was looking through the schedule of the Gilmore Keyboard Festival, which will be featuring Geri Allen, Brad Meldhau, Diana Krall and Gary Burton... and then saw this and about fell off my chair....

Ran Blake, 2 p.m. April 30; Wellspring Theater , 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall, Suite 204, Kalamazoo; $12.

http://www.thegilmore.org

Edited April 26, 2012 by Lazaro Vega

[alankin]

Lucky you!

[Lazaro Vega]

I still am trying to figure out how to get there....

[Pete C]

I still am trying to figure out how to get there....

Slouch, of course.

I hope you can make it. I saw Ran at least 3 times, twice at Cobi Narita's wonderfully intimate loft space, like being in someone's living room. He really clicked with me when I heard him live, much more than previous listening did for me.

[johnlitweiler]

I still am trying to figure out how to get there....

Steal a car. Ran Blake is worth it.

[Chuck Nessa]

I haven't seen Ran in years. Might go if things work out.

[JSngry]

Caught him about 35 years ago when he came to NT for a playing lecture one day. No real advance publicity as I recall.

The mutual sense of befuddlement between him and the general school "presentation" about what the other was up too still brings a chuckle, occasionally a real lol.

I used to have family in Kalamazoo actually. Wish I still did, and that I had the time to go up there for the gig and a visit. Well, at least the gig. nobody left there to visit.

Anyway, they only made one Ran Blake, so experience him while you can. I remain in wait for another chance.

[Lazaro Vega]

Kicker, from his web site:

April 30 — Ran performs a solo tribute to Abbey Lincoln in Kalamazoo, Michigan — her hometown — as part of the Gilmore International Keyboard Festival. Read more about the festival here http://www.thegilmore.org

I've written Mr. Blake to see if any provisions have been made to record Monday's performance.

[Chuck Nessa]

Ran is an old friend. I emailed him too. Maybe.....

[jeffcrom]

During Michael Smith's tenure in Atlanta in the 1990's, he and I went to see Mr. Blake before a concert at Georgia State University. Michael brought a cassette copy of a recording session we had done. Ran never got past the first tune - he kept rewinding and listening to that first piece, saying "That's so out."

[Lazaro Vega]

http://www.thegilmore.org/events/ran-blake-apr-30/

Blue Lake Public Radio will work with WFMT to aquire a copy of this performance for broadcast.

Edited April 27, 2012 by Lazaro Vega

[Chuck Nessa]

During Michael Smith's tenure in Atlanta in the 1990's, he and I went to see Mr. Blake before a concert at Georgia State University. Michael brought a cassette copy of a recording session we had done. Ran never got past the first tune - he kept rewinding and listening to that first piece, saying "That's so out."

This reminds me of a late '70s afternoon with Ran at our apartment. He was in town for a solo concert at Northwestern. Guests included John Litweiler, Larry Kart, Terry Martin and Art Lange. At some point I played James P Johnson's BN recording of Caprice Rag (on a Herwin piano anthology) and Ran "went nuts" and almost derailed the afternoon. Received a message from Ran today and he mentioned the afternoon. Fascinating fellow.

Edited April 27, 2012 by Chuck Nessa

[Lazaro Vega]

I'm going. It's my birthday, so, I'm going. $12. Are you kidding?

More on Ran and Abbey Lincoln: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/28/arts/music/28abbey.html

[johnlitweiler]

Kicker, from his web site:

April 30 — Ran performs a solo tribute to Abbey Lincoln in Kalamazoo, Michigan — her hometown — as part of the Gilmore International Keyboard Festival. Read more about the festival here http://www.thegilmore.org

I've written Mr. Blake to see if any provisions have been made to record Monday's performance.

Kalamazoo her home town - interesting. There's a pamphlet, a short history of the old, pre-Civil War black community in SE Mich. (Cass, Berrien, St. Joe counties), that claims Abbey grew up away down there. (A Niles newspaperman wrote it.) IIRC she did not claim a Michigan background.

I do remember in 1975 moseying across a pre-subway Washington DC with Ran Blake to catch a Jeanne Moreau movie. He was a Jeanne Moreau completist. He had good taste (probably still has).

[Chuck Nessa]

Been researching this for Ran. Thanks to Mark Stryker for pointing out an interview with Lara Pellegrinelli.

Abbey clearly mentions Calvin Center. She also mentions rural life. This turns out to be an unincorporated community in SW Michigan - closer to South Bend than Kalamazoo. She also mentions Kzoo.

Maybe more later.

[Mark Stryker]

Kicker, from his web site:

April 30 — Ran performs a solo tribute to Abbey Lincoln in Kalamazoo, Michigan — her hometown — as part of the Gilmore International Keyboard Festival. Read more about the festival here http://www.thegilmore.org

I've written Mr. Blake to see if any provisions have been made to record Monday's performance.

Kalamazoo her home town - interesting. There's a pamphlet, a short history of the old, pre-Civil War black community in SE Mich. (Cass, Berrien, St. Joe counties), that claims Abbey grew up away down there. (A Niles newspaperman wrote it.) IIRC she did not claim a Michigan background.

I do remember in 1975 moseying across a pre-subway Washington DC with Ran Blake to catch a Jeanne Moreau movie. He was a Jeanne Moreau completist. He had good taste (probably still has).

Actually, she spoke freely about her upbringing if asked. Very long and fascinating interview here. She was born in Chicago but grew up on a farm in Calvin Center, a rural place in the southeastern part of Michigan. She later lived in Kalamazoo, where she went to high school and apparently also lived briefly in Jackson, MI. Long and very interesting interview here:

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:0cqlssWxwt4J:www.newmusicbox.org/assets/38/interview_lincoln.pdf+abbey+lincoln+and+lisa+and+calvin+and+kalamazoo&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESi1vg8IBFeutNMWz5xBv3Z1Rs7-OrB1eQYxasQiQpU4_U-rV_SSN6HxwSH06uLkXe6o1OkvXybIRRtL3FVO5L11T_nvMSQb61bObMOwfBoriYlXagxVvdwNoowoGID6h1_4LIIr&sig=AHIEtbRnamkp5UU5UdeMWVb039qv7HG4bQ

Edited April 28, 2012 by Mark Stryker

[Chuck Nessa]

Looks like we typed at the same time.

[Mark Stryker]

Looks like we typed at the same time.

OK, that's a little spooky ...

[Pete C]

Thanks to Mark Stryker for pointing out an interview with Lara Pellegrinelli.

I assume Lara did an interview with Abbey, not Ran? (assumption because female vocalists are her real specialty)

Edited May 1, 2012 by Pete C

[clifford_thornton]

To those who attended: lucky!

[johnlitweiler]

How was the concert?

[Chuck Nessa]

Lovely recital - just about an hour long. All the pieces were related to Abbey Lincoln. Small theater (140 seats) and a lovely piano. After the program Ran returned to the piano bench for informal discussion with the stragglers, including about a half dozen high school classmates of Abbey.

We spoke briefly. Ran was using a walker to move about. He asked me to pass on his greeting to you, Terry, Art and Larry.

Edited May 3, 2012 by Chuck Nessa