Ron Blake

Ron Blake

Advisor - Black University
Soundscapes - A Bedtime Project

Multi-talented saxophonist Ron Blake inhabits many worlds. The origins of Blake's tradition-honed eclecticism can be traced back to the Virgin Islands where he was born and reared. At age 8, Blake started guitar lessons; then, two years later, he began learning the alto saxophone in his elementary school band. He loved playing calypso and other music from the Caribbean. He graduated from Michigan's Interlochen Arts Academy, and later matriculated into Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, where he was the recipient of the Presidential Award for Outstanding Artistic and Academic Achievement. During that time, Blake studied with renowned Classical saxophonist, Dr. Frederick L. Hemke. He was introduced by, and performed with jazz luminaries Dizzy Gillespie, Bobby Hutcherson, and Gary Bartz at the first Virgin Islands Jazz Festival in 1987.

Blake's discography numbers more than 60 recordings as either a guest or sideman with leading artists. They include Roy Hargrove; Art Farmer; the Christian McBride Band: Spirit Music Jamia with Meshell Ndgeocello; Joey DeFrancesco, and the Grammy nominated, Latin pop group, Yerba Buena. He is also the co-founder of the Dion Parson 21st Century Band, a Caribbean Jazz band. The multi-talented musician is in his 16th season as a member of NBC's Saturday Night Live Band. He is the recipient of two Grammy awards with the Christian McBride Big Band and three Emmy Awards as a member of the SNL Band. He has released four recordings as a leader, three on Mack Avenue and his self released debut, UpFront and Personal, in 2000.

Blake has been a member of the Jazz Studies faculty at the Juilliard School since 2007, and is founder and Artistic Director of the Caribbean Jazz Institute (CJI) at Snow Pond in Sidney, Maine.

Ron Blake endorses Keilwerth Sarophones, D'Addario Reeds, Silverstein Ligatures, 

SaxHolder, LeBayle Mouthpieces, & KeyLeaves Products.