Ran Blake has created a unique niche in contemporary music as an artist and educator, in a career that now spans six decades, With a characteristic mix of classical, blues, gospel, popular standards, film noir, and world music traditions, Blake's singular sound has earned a dedicated following all over the world. His legacy as a pianist and composer includes 50 albums on some of the world's top jazz labels. He regularly offers concerts and masterclasses throughout the United States and Europe, where he performs to sold-out audiences. His achievement has been recognized by numerous awards, including a MacArthur "Genius" Fellowship in 1988 and two Guggenheim grants.Born in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1935, Blake grew up in Suffield, Connecticut. He received a B.A. from Bard College (1960) and later studied at the Lenox School of Jazz with John Lewis, Oscar Peterson, Max Roach, and Bill Russo. During those years he became close to Thelonious Monk and his family. Gunther Schuller, then President of New England Conservatory, invited him to join the faculty in 1967; when the Department of Third Stream Studies was founded five years later (now known as the Contemporary Improvisation Department), Ran served as chair from 1973 to 2005. His teaching focuses on aural training, long-term musical memory, and film noir. In 2010 his book Primacy of the Ear was published; it brings together insights from decades of teaching and performing. Shimmering Shadows: The Music and Life of Ran Blake, by Janet McFadden Ran Blake has created a unique niche in contemporary music as an artist and educator, in a career that now spans six decades, With a characteristic mix of classical, blues, gospel, popular standards, film noir, and world music traditions, Blake's singular sound has earned a dedicated following all over the world. His legacy as a pianist and composer includes 50 albums on some of the world's top jazz labels. He regularly offers concerts and masterclasses throughout the United States and Europe, where he performs to sold-out audiences. His achievement has been recognized by numerous awards, including a MacArthur "Genius" Fellowship in 1988 and two Guggenheim grants.Born in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1935, Blake grew up in Suffield, Connecticut. He received a B.A. from Bard College (1960) and later studied at the Lenox School of Jazz with John Lewis, Oscar Peterson, Max Roach, and Bill Russo. During those years he became close to Thelonious Monk and his family, and also studied with Mary Lou Williams. Gunther Schuller, then President of New England Conservatory, invited him to join the faculty in 1967; five years later, Schuller founded the Department of Third Stream Studies (now known as the Contemporary Improvisation), and appointed him chair; he headed the department from 1973 to 2005. Ran Blake's teaching focuses on aural training, long-term musical memory, and film noir. In 2010, he published Primacy of the Ear, which brings together insights from decades of teaching and performing. His biography, Shimmering Shadows: The Music and Life of Ran Blake, by Janet McFadden, appeared in November 2022.
