Blaine Whittaker's High 5

Historical article recovered from a Wayback capture dated 2018-02-24.

High 5

Blaine is undeniably one of the most sought after saxophonists in Australia with his band and as a freelance studio, session and touring musician.

Blaine graduated from the Brisbane Conservatorium of Music.

In 1993 and 1998, Blaine pursued further studies in New York, with musicians including Wynton Marsalis, George Coleman, Vincent Herring and Gary Smulyon (baritone). During his time there, he performed with a wealth of American jazz talent including jazz and blues legend Dakota Staten at the famous Lennox Lounge in Harlem.

In 1997, Blaine released his first album as a leader entitled

Hard Bop Café

, with special guest artists Bobby Gebert and James Morrison. He also recorded

Live at the Opera House

with Morrison and Australian jazz legend Don Burrows, and with Richard Clapton on the album

Angel Town

.

Blaine’s 2001 recording,

Bright Lights in Babylon

highlights Blaine’s writing for septet featuring the three movement suite of the same name,

Bright Lights in Babylon

. The suite, harbouring writing influences from Wynton Marsalis, Monk and Mingus, was Blaine’s first extended piece on record. In February of 2002, Bright Lights in Babylon was launched with 2 sell-out performances in Sydney at the “Side on Café”.

In the same year Blaine realised a dream come true when he played along side Wynton Marsalis and young tenor star Joshua Redman at Wine Banc jazz club, Sydney during Wynton’s Australian tour.

Blaine was based in Hong Kong from 2002 until 2007 freelancing with studio work, live gigs, concert performances and touring cities and countries including Singapore, Shanghai, Tsindao, Nanjing (China) Mandalay (Burma) Bangkok (Thailand), Kuala Lumpur, Manilla and Athens (Greece) playing with Roberta Flack and Allen Youngblood.

Blaine was invited as special guest to play lead alto with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra playing

Ebony Concerto

(Stravinsky),

Prelude Fugue and Riffs

(Bernstein) and

Harlem

(Ellington).

Whilst in Hong Kong Blaine also played with Swedish Jazz star Nils Landgren, R&B legends Mary Wilson (Supremes), the Temptations, Cleo Lane, Laura Fygi (Holland) Blues man Zack Prather (U.S.) and Martha Reeves (U.S.).

Blaine also found time to record 2 CDs with the multi award winning Sydney All-star Big Band (

Doin Our Thing

and

Pyl Driver

) and also play at the Sydney Festival with big band legend Rob McConnell (Canada).

Blaine also performed along side Canto-pop stars Anthony Lun, Jen Fu, Jade, Leo Ku, Chris Wong, and Twins.

2005 saw Blaine collaborate with American pianist/composer Allen Youngblood to co-produce the CD

Midnight Odyssey

in which Blaine played alto/soprano and wrote all horn arrangements.

During 2007 Blaine toured with Canto-pop megastar Jacky Cheung. Touring USA, Canada, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Macau, Australia/NZ, and all major cities throughout China.

Whilst in Hong Kong Blaine played with U.S. trumpet star Roy Hargrove at jazz club Bohemia Lounge. Blaine has performed at many national and international jazz festivals including the Kuala Lumpur Jazz Festival with “The Yellow Jackets” and Diana Krall, Darling Harbour Jazz Festival, Jazz in the Vines, Manly Jazz Festival, Glenelg Jazz Festival S.A. (Mike Nock Big Band) Nanjing (China), Taipei (Taiwan) Puerto Galera (Philippines) and the FCC Jazz Festival (Hong Kong).

Blaine is now permanently based in Sydney and has recently released his third album

Sound Barrier

.

1.DALE BARLOW – Brisbane Travelodge 1990

I was a 2nd year conservatorium student and had heard about Dale for a number of years but had never seen him play. He had just recently returned to Australia from being in N.Y. all those years. So he was on fire. I was heavily into bebop/hardbop, playing changes and great technique, so it was everything I was looking for. I was 18 at the time and he blew my mind. For some reason Bud Powell’s Webb City sticks in my mind.

2. WYNTON MARSALIS/MARCUS ROBERTS – Lincoln Centre NYC 1993

The first time I saw Wynton was the same impact as Dale. To hear his sound and agility over the horn was strangely life changing, at the time. Later that week I bumped into Wynton walking along Broadway (like you do).We got to talking and he invited me up to his apartment for a lesson. Well I let a week go by and then I lost the vibe to actually go at all.

Then I attended a ‘jazz talk’ with Roy Hargrove and Terrance Blanchard talking about composition etc. Halfway through the talk Wynton walked in. I thought I should try and speak with him and tee up the lesson. Just as I decided to do this he left the room and went into a lift with 4 other guys. So I followed him into the lift and he’s just staring at me not saying anything and I’m feeling like an idiot because the lift is going up, to God knows where and he obviously can’t remember me. Finally, he say’s ‘Does your name start with B?’ I said “yes it’s Blaine” he said “yeah I thought you were going to come see me”. He wasn’t happy.” How’s tomorrow” I bleated. “3 o’clock. Don’t be late!” They all got off at the next floor.

3. DAVE LIEBMAN, MICHAEL BRECKER AND JOE LOVANO – Birdland NYC 2005

Three tenors and rhythm section; I was hanging with Brendan Clarke. It was sold out. We saw the 1st set standing at the back of the room. Peering between other people’s heads and shoulders. It was a drag.

Three of greatest tenor players on the planet and I can’t see them. I could hear them which was great, but I wanted to see how they executed what they were playing and the communication; all those things that happen on the band stand etc. Well, I can’t remember how it happened but we saw the 2nd set from the front table. It was like a miracle. It was not long after this gig that Michael stopped performing for ever. I was startled at how much weight he had lost. I had seen him play in Hong Kong twelve months earlier. No one knew this would be one of his last shows. It was a night I’ll never forget. Each soloist was driven to new heights of expression due to the amazing solo they had to follow. Yet it never got competitive. They just had so much to say and plenty of time to say it. At times it was very intense. All three would be soloing at the same time and throwing everything in – harmonics, multiphonics, sheets of sound, atonal and bebop. They did everything do-able on the saxophone. No stone unturned.

4. ROY HARGROVE QUINTET – Hong Kong 2007

I’ve always been a fan of Roy and his music. He came through Hong Kong and was doing selections from the current album “Nothing Serious”. Hip tunes, hip harmonies and arrangements. Nice ensemble writing. Lots of colours. All the things I love.

The night before this concert I was playing at a club called Bohemia Lounge. I knew these cats were in town. But you could have knocked me down with a feather when they rocked up to my gig with their horns. Roy and Justin Robinson (alto) sat in and we jammed till 3am.It was a great session. Roy was calling all the tunes, mainly bebop standards like ‘Stablemates’,‘Round midnight’ I was high for days after.

5. NILS LANDGREN FUNK UNIT – Hong Kong 2005

Ok so this is some Euro funk now. I had played with Nils the year before when he came through Hong Kong. This time he brought the whole band. He had Karl Martin Almquist on tenor and Rigmor Gustafson on vocals. Rigmor would have to be my favourite vocalist right now. Music doesn’t have to be like a religious experience for it to linger in your mind. Although it does help. This was not a religious experience but I’ll always remember it. Simply put - great solos, great arrangements and fresh sounds. Just an awesome vibe.