Ran Blake Trio - Sonic Temples (2001) CD Rip

Sonic Temples is an expansive and deeply expressive double-album by the Ran Blake Trio, released in 2001 on GM Recordings. The set showcases Ran Blake’s highly individual approach to jazz piano, blending post bop traditions with impressionistic harmonies, minimalism, and emotionally charged interpretations of classic standards. Across more than two hours of music, the trio—featuring Ed Schuller on bass and George Schuller on drums and percussion—creates a wide-ranging sonic landscape that shifts between introspection, tension, and lyrical beauty. The addition of alto saxophone by Nicole Kämpgen Schuller further enriches the ensemble texture, adding a contrasting melodic voice. The repertoire includes reinterpretations of well-known jazz standards such as “Nature Boy,” “Skylark,” and “You Don’t Know What Love Is,” alongside more abstract and original pieces like “The Only Painting” and “Horace Is Blue.” Ran Blake’s distinctive touch emphasizes space, silence, and emotional depth, giving each performance a cinematic and often haunting character. Sonic Temples stands as a compelling exploration of mood-driven jazz, appealing to listeners who appreciate avant-garde sensibilities blended with the jazz tradition.

Tracklist:

CD1:
01. Tangerine
02. Nature Boy
03. Black Coffee
04. The Short Life Of Barbara Monk
05. Dra-kumba
06. I Can't Get Started
07. Spiral Staircase
08. Skylark
09. The Only Painting
10. Memphis
11. MBS
12. How High The Moon

CD2:
01. Stormy Weather
02. Nothing Or All
03. Horace Is Blue
04. Laura
05. You Don't Know What Love Is
06. It Don't Mean A Thing
07. My Man's Gone Now
08. New Moon
09. Wende
10. Night Music
11. Arline

Personnel
Ran Blake - Piano
Ed Schuller - Bass
George Schuller - Drums, Bells, Whistle
Nicole Kämpgen Schuller - Alto Saxophone