More Like Us is
Michael Blake's follow-up to his earlier recording for Stunt as leader of the group
Blake Tartare. Showing an adventurous spirit and a refusal to be pigeonholed into any one style, the multi-instrumentalist (tenor sax, soprano sax, clarinet, bass clarinet and ghost flute) utilizes a basic group including keyboardist Soren Kjaergaard, bassist Jonas Westergaard and drummer Kresten Osgood, with a number of guests added. Vocalist Marie Lorette Friis and cellist Jane Scarpantoni are added to the haunting "Hush" a dark waltz with a few twists. The loopy "Happy Old Boy," written by
John Lurie, features
Steven Bernstein (another
Lounge Lizards alum), while
Blake's soprano sax dances around the intense, brisk setting of
Coleman Hawkins' "Maria," with the leader switching gears at mid-point by moving to bass clarinet. Perhaps the most infectious original of the date is "Africa Used to Be Home," with
Blake simulating a native singer, at first on clarinet then tenor sax, propelled by his rhythm section. Only
the Slickers' tedious "Johnny Too Bad" proves to be a misfit on this otherwise compelling release. ~ Ken Dryden