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John Blum
New
York City pianist/composer John Blum has performed as a group leader and
soloist for the past ten years. While an undergraduate from 1987-1991 Blum studied
with Bill Dixon and Milford Graves, and performed regularly in a quartet with Marco Eneidi
and Jackson Krall. After college he also studied with pianists Borah Bergman and
Cecil Taylor. In 1992, while in Europe, he worked with Han Bennink, Antonio Grippi,
Tristan Honsinger, and Tony Scott.
Upon returning to New York City, Blum became a member of the
Improvisors Collective and also initiated projects as a soloist, group leader, and
collaborative works with other musicians, including Rashid Bakr, Roy Campbell, and Daniel
Carter. He led a large ensemble in 1995 with Karen Borca, Joe Daly, Jackson Krall,
Alex Lodico, Raphe Malik, and Sabir Mateen. This group played at the first Vision
Festival in 1996 and was later featured at Roulette in 1997. Along with his solo and
group projects, he also worked with the Cecil Taylor Orchestra and performed piano duets
with Cooper-Moore at the Whitney Museum.
In early 1998, he joined with Antonio
Grippi on alto saxophone, William Parker on bass, and Denis Charles on drums to form
Astrogeny for a series of performances. In another project, Blum worked with members
of his former ensemble, Joe Daly and Jackson Krall in a trio format. This trio also
played at the 1999 Vision Festival.
During 1999, Blum performed in a
quartet with Jameel Moondoc, Gerald Cleaver, and either William Parker or Sirone on
bass. That year he received a compositional grant form the Jerome Foundation which
financed the performance of two ensemble pieces with Karen Borca, Jemeel Moondoc, and
Randy Peterson. Blum was pianist for the Bill Dixon Ensemble at Vision Fest
2000. At Vision Fest 2001, Blum performed as a soloist.
Currently John is at work on several
collaborative projects: a trio with Matt Maneri, and Michael Wimberly; duets with drummer
Susie Ibarra; and the trio FIRESIGN, originally organized in 1993 with Sabir Mateen and
Tom Bruno.
John Blum's
Website
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Discography on Drimala Records
2002
Naked Mirror
DRTP 02-347-02
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