Ron Blake - Sonic Tonic (2005)

Ron Blake is an excellent modern mainstream tenor saxophonist with a strong tone, a creative improvising style, and versatility. On this well-rounded CD, Blake digs into some of his best originals ("Tom Blake" is particularly memorable), Johnny Griffin's catchy "Dance of Passion," a lyrical version of "The Windmills of Your Mind," and a beautiful reading of "Pure Imagination." The backing ranges from straight-ahead in a 1960s John Coltrane vein to the use of electronics to creative funk rhythms and touches of fusion. Much of the set could have been recorded during 1965-1975, but it is not predictable, it doesn't lose the listener's interest, and the musicianship is top-notch. While the regular CD has 11 selections, a second limited-edition CD has remixed versions of three of the songs, with "Tom Blake" and "Dance of Passion" being "re-imagined" twice. Listeners who feel that the original date does not sound complete without louder bass and drums, electronic rhythms, and odd sound effects may enjoy the second CD, but others may find this to be an odd waste, a case where more is less. However, Sonic Tonic is worth acquiring for the first disc.

Tracklist:

01. Invocation
02. Chasing the Sun
03. Your Warm Embrace
04. Dance of Passion
05. The Windmills of Your Mind
06. Shades of Brown
07. Sonic Tonic
08. Tom Blake (Revisited)
09. Pure Imagination
10. Pissaro's Floor
11. Invocation