chris wong in sync

The list consists of three tenor saxophonists (including two unrelated guys with the last name Blake) and three women (including one mega-star). I'm talking about the B.C.-born and/or raised musicians, who have pursued their jazz dreams in New York City, and told me about it in interviews. They include Michael Blake, Seamus Blake, Mike Zilber, Renee Rosnes, Ingrid Jensen and Diana Krall.

One, admittedly tenuous factor influencing my interest in chatting with Canadians in New York has been the tendency to pay extra attention to artists who achieve success down south. But I've also been legitimately curious about what kind of person can thrive, as these musicians have for the most part, in the jazz Mecca.

The Blake I just spoke to, 29-year-old Seamus, may well have the most interesting conception and sound of the aforementioned players. The tenor and soprano saxophonist has certainly established himself as a creative force on recordings as a leader and sideman, and in live performances. Blake was born in London, England and moved to New Westminster when he was three. In Vancouver he went to Sir Winston Churchill secondary, where band teacher Gregg Hurst was supportive of the saxophonist's already clear resolve to become a musician. While still in high school, Blake played with the Capilano College and UBC big bands. He also soaked in sounds by players like Ross Taggart, Campbell Ryga and Phil Dwyer. Blake remembers busking with drummer Dylan van der Schyff. "We used to go downtown, set up in front of Eaton's and just play for three or four hours and see how much money we could make," recalls Blake, on the phone from his home in Brooklyn.

At 17 he left for the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Blake was fortunate to be at the renowned school at the same time as a particularly large number of distinctive musicians. He jammed with the likes of Joshua Redman, Roy Hargrove and Geoff Keezer. Recording with eminent drummer Victor Lewis in 1992 opened a lot of doors in the jazz world and prepared the way for Blake's eventual move to New York.

After a few lean years, Blake started getting steadier and higher-profile gigs. He joined a version of John Scofield's touring band and the Mingus Big Band. Blake has put out three albums on the Dutch Criss Cross label, including one with his electronics-heavy Bloomdaddies band, and a CD on Fresh Sound.

On that 1999 Fresh Sound release, Stranger Things Have Happened, Blake impresses with his ability to convincingly play both in the tradition and in edgier settings. He also shows his willingness to depart from jazz convention by including a folky pop song, "Northern Light", which features Blake's uncredited vocals. "I was certainly taking a chance and I was a little nervous about putting something like that on one of my records, but the song came very naturally to me when I wrote it. I didn't even really think twice about it."

But Blake shouldn't drop his horns and become a crooner. After all, guitar God Pat Metheny called Blake "the best tenor player I've heard in a couple of years." How does he feel about the kudos? "That kind of stuff sort of goes in one ear and out the other, because if I dwell on it too much it just seems like a distraction," he says. "But it is nice that somebody that you idolize and respect in so many ways appreciates what you do. At least it's confirmation you're on the right track."

As a reflection of the Cellar's commitment to presenting high level jazz, the owners are flying Blake in to play with the Brad Turner Quartet Sept. 28 and 29. Aside from serving as the Cellar's grand opening, the gigs will be CD release parties for a disc including live tracks Turner recorded with Blake last January at the very same venue. If you want to hear some of the most satisfying jazz musicians currently based in Vancouver, and one that used to live here, don't even think about missing these shows. Call 738-1959 for information.

My knowledge of Icelandic music began and ended with Björk and the Sugarcubes, that is until I heard Prím, Jóel Pálsson's first album as a leader. Now I know that Iceland has produced marvelous jazz musicians such as Pálsson, a tenor and soprano saxophonist. The Berklee graduate plays with steady authority on Prím. If you heard the album in a blindfold test it would be easy to assume that prime New York players, and not Reykjavík-based ones, came up with this post-bop jazz. Pálsson and his quintet will give an 8:00 p.m. concert Sept. 22 at the Capilano College Performing Arts Theatre. Call 990-7810 for tickets.

When Mose Allison performed in Vancouver more than three years ago he didn't do anything fancy. He just sang and played piano with the singular style he's been honing since the 1950s. Allison showed that his instincts for lyrical wit and bluesy swing remain sharp. The singer/pianist/songwriter will return Sept. 18 for an 8:00 p.m. concert at Richard's on Richards. Just like last time, bassist Rick Kilburn and drummer John Nolan will accompany Allison. Partial proceeds from the concert will go to the Vancouver Food Bank.

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