Photos: The Music of Ran Blake

January 9, 2019

NEC's Jazz Orchestra dedicated a December Jordan Hall concert to the celebration of composer and pianist Ran Blake, who has shaped NEC in pivotal ways over his 45 years at the conservatory.

The moment arrived during the third number, Ran Blake’s “The Short Life of Barbara Monk,” when the decorated composer of half a century began his piano solo.

The phrase “the laying on of hands” immediately came to my mind, as with the old healers.

The 17-piece band playing with him was tight, especially for a student ensemble...If you had closed your eyes and just listened, it would not occur to you that these were very young adults.

But so much as a bar from Blake—a mere cluster of notes—revealed what a different level we’re talking here.

Jazz Times review

NEC faculty Ran Blake with student pianist Matthew Thomson ’19 MM

NEC faculty member Dominique Eade sings during The Music of Ran Blake concert — Fellow faculty member and frequent Blake collaborator Dominique Eade ’82, ’89 AD

Michael Talento plays the saxophone with the NEC Jazz Orchestra — Michael Talento ’19 MM

Darynn Dean sings with NEC Jazz Orchestra during The Music of Ran Blake concert — Darynn Dean ’19

Vocalist Cordelia Tapping sings during The Music of Ran Blake concert — Zhengyi Hong ’19 MM

Bulut Gulen plays trombone while Darynn Dean holds a microphone — Bulut Gulen ’19 MM