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John Blum
John Blum
Born	April 15, 1968 (age 56); New York City, United States
Genres	Free jazz
Occupation	Musician
Instrument	Piano
Years active	1991–present
Website	johnblum.com

John Blum (born April 15, 1968) is an American jazz pianist and composer.

Blum has performed and/or recorded with Antonio Grippi, Barry Guy, Butch Morris, Chad Taylor, Charles Gayle, Cooper-Moore, Daniel Carter, Darius Jones, David Liebman, David Murray, Denis Charles, Ed Schuller, Gerald Cleaver, Hamid Drake, Han Bennink, Jackson Krall, Jemeel Moondoc, Karen Borca, Marco Eneidi, Marshall Allen, Mat Maneri, Michael Bisio, Peter Brotzman, Tony Scott, Tristan Honsinger, Raphe Malik, Roy Campbell, Jr., Sabir Mateen, Sunny Murray, Sonny Simmons, Sirone, Steve Swell, Susie Ibarra, 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.^[1] He is an underground legend^[2] of the downtown music scene in New York, known for his explosive^[3] high-voltage pianism,^[4] and as a musician who aims for the very personal.^[5]

In 2024, Blum continues to work as a soloist and group leader, performing throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, and Mexico.

Discography

As leader

Naked Mirror (Drimala Records, 2002)
Astrogeny (Eremite Records, 2006)
Who begat Eye (Konnex Records, 2009)
In The Shade of Sun (Ecstatic Peace Records, 2009)
Duplexity (Relative Pitch Records, 2020)
Nine Rivers (ESP-Disc, 2023)
The Recursive Tree (Relative Pitch Records, 2023)
Deep Space (Astral Spirits Records, 2024)

As sideman

Butch Morris Orchestra – Conduction 117 (Jump Arts Records, 2003)
Sunny Murray – Perles Noires Volume 2 (Tracks 5-7) (Eremite, 2005)
Steve Swell – Live at the Vision Festival (Not Two, 2007)
Steve Swell – 5000 Poems (Not Two, 2009)

Selected reviews

References

^ "John Blum: In The Shade Of The Sun". Allaboutjazz.com. March 5, 2010. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
^ "Steve Swell's Slammin' The Infinite: 5000 Poems". Allaboutjazz.com. April 6, 2010. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
^ Chinen, Nate (June 19, 2006). "New York Times Music Review". The New York Times. Retrieved June 19, 2006.
^ "The Listings – August 25 – August 31 – Schedule –". The New York Times. August 25, 2006. Retrieved August 25, 2006.
^ "John Blum Naked Mirror Review". www.squidsear.com. Retrieved May 21, 2003.

External links

John Blum Website [1]
Interview: INSIDEJAZZ MAGAZINE (2010)

[1] "John Blum: In The Shade Of The Sun". Allaboutjazz.com. March 5, 2010. Retrieved December 12, 2015.

[2] "Steve Swell's Slammin' The Infinite: 5000 Poems". Allaboutjazz.com. April 6, 2010. Retrieved December 12, 2015.

[3] Chinen, Nate (June 19, 2006). "New York Times Music Review". The New York Times. Retrieved June 19, 2006.

[4] "The Listings – August 25 – August 31 – Schedule –". The New York Times. August 25, 2006. Retrieved August 25, 2006.

[5] "John Blum Naked Mirror Review". www.squidsear.com. Retrieved May 21, 2003.

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