Instruments Piano Website johnblum.com | Occupation(s) Musician Years active 1991–present Genre Free jazz | |
Born April 15, 1968 (age 48)New York City, United States ( 1968-04-15 ) Albums Steve Swell’s Slammin’ the Infinite Live @ The Vision Festival, In the Shade of Sun, Naked Mirror Similar | ||
John Blum (born April 15, 1968) is an American jazz pianist and composer.
Contents
Blum has performed and/or recorded with Antonio Grippi, Butch Morris, Charles Gayle, Chris Corsano, Cooper-Moore, Daniel Carter, Darius Jones, Denis Charles, Ed Schuller, Gerald Cleaver, Hamid Drake, Han Bennink, Jackson Krall, Jemeel Moondoc, Karen Borca, Marco Eneidi, Mat Maneri, Michael Wimberly, Peter Brotzman, Tony Scott, Tristan Honsinger, Raphe Malik, Roy Campbell, Jr., Ryan Sawyer, Sabir Mateen, Sunny Murray, Sonny Simmons, Sirone, Steve Swell, Susie Ibarra, Tony Buck, Warren Smith, Wilber Morris, and William Parker.
Biography
Blum is based in New York City, United States. He studied piano with Cecil Taylor and Borah Bergman, and music and composition with Milford Graves and Bill Dixon. Blum has a BS Degree in Biological Science from Bennington College and a MFA Degree in Jazz Composition and Performance.
His keyboard technique is something of a jazz hybrid of Cecil Taylor and McCoy Tyner, decidedly percussive but with relentlessly fast right-hand linear structure. Blum plays with such forcefulness and rapidity that he sounds like Conlon Nancarrow's player piano rolls, interpreted via human hands, freed up into a liquid state. He is an underground legend of the downtown music scene in New York, known for his explosive high-voltage pianism, and as a musician who aims for the very personal.
In 2016, Blum continues to work as a soloist and group leader, performing throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, and Mexico.
As leader
As sideman
Selected reviews
Songs
In the Shade of SunIn the Shade of Sun · 2009
Out of this NettleIn the Shade of Sun · 2009
Misanthrope's DreamIn the Shade of Sun · 2009