Michael Blum (musician)

Michael Blum
Born (1993-05-30) May 30, 1993
Great Neck, NY
Genres Jazz
Occupation(s) Musician, composer
Instruments Guitar, vocals
Website michaelblumguitar.com

Michael Blum (born May 30, 1993) is an American jazz guitarist, vocalist and composer.

In 2015, he was named the "Rising Star" guitarist in DownBeat Magazine's 63rd Annual Critics Poll.[1]

Life and career

Blum was born in Great Neck, New York[2] to a musical family. His father, a classical guitarist, was his first music teacher.[3] Blum began his music studies on piano, then played saxophone before ultimately studying guitar at age nine.[2]

In 2011, Blum began studying at Dartmouth College, from which he graduated with a double major in music and cognitive science.[4] During the summer of his freshman year, Blum worked as a pit musician at the New London Barn Playhouse, where he decided to pursue music professionally.[5] He soon began studying with Berklee College of Music professor, Jim Stinnett,[6] who previously taught Blum's father.[2] After studying with him for a year, Stinnett suggested that he and Blum record an album together.[7]

In February 2014, Blum released his debut album, Initiation, with his quartet, which features bassist Jim Stinnett, pianist Brad Smith and drummer Dom Moio.[8] All About Jazz called Initiation a "stellar debut,"[9] In a review of Initiation, Downbeat Magazine compared Blum to "Kenny Burrell, Charlie Byrd, Jim Hall, Johnny Smith, Emily Remler...or Columbia-era George Benson," and called Blum "an articulate player who executes with clarity...[and] shows unusual maturity."[10] In a review of Initiation, Vintage Guitar Magazine said, "Hope for jazz guitar’s future abounds in this release by the 20-year-old Blum and his quartet…[it's] the perfect debut for a player who seems wise beyond his years."[11]

In June 2015, Blum released his second album and vocal debut, Commitment, which features bassist Jim Stinnett, pianist Brad Smith, saxophonist Fred Haas and electric bassist Grant Stinnett.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "Iyer Voted Jazz Artist of the Year in DownBeat Critics Poll". DownBeat Magazine. Maher Publications. 23 June 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 O'Reilly, Anthony (17 April 2014). "Great Neck native gets his ‘Initiation’". The Island Now. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  3. ↑ Nelson, Margarette (14 April 2014). "Michael Blum ’15 releases first jazz guitar CD, ‘Initiation’". The Dartmouth. The Dartmouth, Inc. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  4. ↑ Barber, Bonnie (13 March 2014). "Musical Epiphany Leads to Debut CD by Michael Blum ’15". Dartmouth Now. Trustees of Dartmouth College. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  5. ↑ "Understanding Twee, Michael Blum, And Comedian Todd Glass". New Hampshire Public Radio. Word of Mouth. 9 June 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  6. ↑ Wolper, Jon (12 April 2014). "Dartmouth Jazz Guitarist Releases Album". Valley News. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  7. ↑ Peña, Tomas (5 April 2014). "Jazz Guitarist Michael Blum Releases “Initiation”". JazzDeLaPena. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  8. ↑ Bewsey, Nick (February 2015). "The Michael Blum Quartet: Initiation". ICON Magazine. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  9. ↑ Blanco, Edward (17 May 2014). "The Michael Blum Quartet: Initiation (2014)". All About Jazz. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  10. ↑ Silsbee, Kirk (November 2014). "The MIchael Blum Quartet: Initiation". DownBeat Magazine 81 (11): 60. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  11. ↑ Heidt, John (March 2015). "The Michael Blum Quartet: Initiation". Vintage Guitar Magazine 29 (5): 133.
  12. ↑ "Commitment - Michael Blum/Jim Stinnett". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 August 2015.

External links

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