John Blake
Twinkling of an Eye
Gramavision (US) 1985
18-8501-1 (LP) Original pressing.
sleeve : NM-
media : EX+/EX+(some slightly noise)
Released in 1985 on Grammavision, this leader album is by American violinist John Blake, who took part in the recording of historic 1970s masterpieces such as Archie Shepp’s Attica Blues and The Cry of My People, and Hannibal Marvin Peterson’s Children of the Fire, while also showing his remarkable skills on recordings by Carlos Garnett, Norman Connors, Grover Washington, Jr., and others. The album features James Simmons on piano, Onaje Gumbs on piano, Wilby Fletcher on drums, and others. It is a work very much marked by the sound production of the mid-1980s, unfolding throughout as colorful crossover/fusion that brings out the glossy, lyrical qualities of Blake’s violin. Among the highlights, A4 is an excellent modern soul track featuring breezy chorus vocals, while B3 is a superb piece of progressive fusion, with soaring chorus work and an expansive soundscape that feels wonderfully open and uplifting.
A4: Ocean Walking
B3: Genesis