Johnathan Blake
Homeward Bound
2021 - Blue Note Records / Universal Music: 00602438431908 / B003421502
https://store.bluenote.com/products/johnathan-blake-homeward-bound
https://www.bluenote.com/spotlight/johnathan-blake-celebrates-life-legacy-on-homeward-bound/
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeward_Bound_(Album)

* Johnathan Blake : drums, cymbals
* Immanuel Wilkins: alto saxophone (2-5, 7-8)
* Joel Ross       : vibraphone (2-5, 7-8)
* David Virelles  : piano (2, 4-5, 6-8), Fender Rhodes (3-4), MiniMoog (4)
* Dezron Douglas  : acoustic bass (2-8)

https://www.johnathanblake.com/
https://www.immanuelwilkins.com/
https://www.iplayvibes.com/
https://www.davidvirelles.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dezron_Douglas

Recorded by Tom Tedesco at Tedesco Studio, Paramus, New Jersey (NJ), USA.

Reviews
~~~~~~~

By George W. Harris
https://www.jazzweekly.com/2021/11/johnathan-blake-homeward-bound/

One of today’s best mainstream drummers, Johnathan Blakes makes an impressive
debut with a label that is logical for him, namely Blue Note. Blake’s band
Pentad includes longtime associate Dezron Douglas/b, David Virelles/p-k, as
well as relative newcombers Immanuel Wilkins/as and Joel Ross/vib. If this band
tours, grab on tight!

He opens things up with a hip solo drum (“In The Beginning Was The Drum”)
before letting Douglas set the tone for the rhythm team to canter under
Wilkins’ searing alto on “Homeward Bound”. Ross’ vibes melds well with Blake’s
shuffle and Virelles’ soulful keyboards on the grooved “Rivers and Parks” with
the team building up to a dramatic climax during “Steppin’ Out”. Blake displays
his soft and deft side with Virelles on the gentle “Abiyoyo” while the fires
burn high and bright during “LLL” after a bit of hip hop intervals for “On The
Break”. This team sounds like they have a gas on stage-you can feel the smiles.

--

By John Fordham
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/nov/05/johnathan-blake-homeward-bound-review-blue-note

By Filipe Freitas
https://jazztrail.net/blog/johnathan-blake-homeward-bound-album-review

By Michael Toland
https://bigtakeover.com/recordings/JohnathanBlakeHomewardBoundBlueNote

By Jim Hynes
https://glidemagazine.com/265731/drummer-johnathan-blake-makes-blue-note-debut-with-elite-quintet-pentad-on-homeward-bound-album-review/

By Will Layman
https://www.popmatters.com/johnathon-blake-homeward-bound-review

Varga Bendegúz (hu)
https://www.jazzma.hu/lemezpolc/kulfoldi-eloadok/blake-johnathan/homeward-bound/kritika/blake-johnathan-homeward-bound

Karl Lippegaus (de)
https://www.stereo.de/fonoforum/rezensionen/rezension/johnathan-blake-homeward-bound