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Ron Blake – 'Sonic Tonic'

Mack Avenue Records MAC 1020

Ron Blake, saxes and flute;
Michael Cain, keyboards;
Christian McBride, bass;
Chris Dave, drums.
This quartet is augmented on some tracks by various other instrumentalists.

Original recording August 2004, New York

Eight of the eleven tracks here are from Ron Blake’s own pen, but each of the eleven may blend Caribbean, contemporary jazz, funk, fusion, Middle Eastern (do I detect traces of Caravan in Johnny Griffin’s Dance of Passion?) and R&B. This is not actually all Ron’s own doing, for the album is produced by Me’Shell NdegéOcello, who has worked with everyone, oh Prince, The Rolling Stones, you name them and picked up nine Grammy nominations for her trouble. The result is a very accomplished album, but it has the somewhat uncomfortable feel of the marketing exercise rather than the pure expression of jazz.

The parts that are too cool and laid back, Pure Imagination and Shades of Brown for example, would relax a hot-house flower, but me they simply wilt. On the other hand, Chasing the Sun is as straight-ahead as a ‘50s Blue Note number and equally full of energy and excitement, while Dance of Passion is mysteriously full of eastern promise, overlaying an Ellington ‘jungle music’ style, laid down with French horn, trombone and tuba.

Ron Blake’s tenor tone is pure tenor and on the sweeter numbers is almost pure soprano. This alone would define the album as an implement for mood control and in spite of the wide variations between tunes, several listenings lead to the conclusion that there is no exacting theme and no meticulous focus. Heard overall the compilation and its sequencing create a sonic shape that sustains a particular mood and upholds the album’s name.

Reviewed by
ken cheetham
February 2006