Jazz Guitarist Steve Blum Makes Austin Debut @ Blackerby Recital Hall
Austin is very well-known as a town in which musicians of all stripes and talents can make a stand for their art, and usually be counted for it. But despite its accessibility to aspirants, journeymen (and women), well-known legends and the undersung, Austin hasn't quite put itself on the map as far as having a jazz foment is concerned. It's too bad, because there is a significant body of fans and players of improvised music who call Austin home, and probably just about as many who pass through. But even the most diehard jazz students, followers and discophiles probably haven't heard of guitarist Steve Blum, a New Yorker who makes his Austin debut on Thursday and breezes out after a Saturday afternoon master class at Albertson Recital Hall.
Blum worked with singer Peggy Lee during her late 1960s-early 1970s Capitol Records sojourn, and was in the groups of renowned post-bop musicians like multi-instrumentalist Ira Sullivan, bassist Cecil McBee and organ-grease luminary Dr. Lonnie Smith. Though his taste and chops are impeccable, there's a flinty and hard-bitten quality to his lines, interesting turns that nod in the direction of Tal Farlow and Eddie Diehl. From the psychedelic bluesy prog of Tom Hensley's Electric Jazz Band and Synthetic Symphonette (Masters of Deceit, Vanguard, 1969), to the lesser-known Brazilian and American songbooks of Duo Motief (with vocalist Jane Blackstone), Blum has explored rather vast reaches of the world's musical landscape and all without recording as a leader.
Hopefully such a disc won't have to wait long - his trio with Ben Meigners and Louis Cato (bass and drums, respectively) is top-notch. He'll be working with the local rhythm section of bassist Pat Harris and drummer Masumi Jones (culled from Jeff Lofton's band) for two nights in addition to Saturday's class and performance:
Thursday, January 21 at Central Market Westgate (4477 S. Lamar), 6:30 PM
Friday, January 22 at Blackerby Recital Hall (1111 West Anderson Lane), 7:30 PM
Saturday, January 23 at Albertson Recital Hall (901 Round Rock Ave, Suite 302B): A Master Class with Steve Blum featuring Pat Harris and Masumi Jones, 2:00 PM.
