Background: Russel Blake has been a Professional Musician/Solo Artist/Educator for the past twenty-seven and a half years. He began playing The Four String Electric Bass at the age of twelve. He was instructed by his Father Alex Blake and his Brother Alex Blake II both of whom are professional musicians. Russel Blake has been performing professionally since the age of twelve. All of his Theory, Compositional and Musical Arrangement skills are self- taught. Thus far, he has Performed/Toured/Taught in Twenty-Two Countries on Four Continents. He has developed a techinque which he calls the Melodius-Chordal Technique. He currently has 422 pieces within his repetoire encompassing Classical, Spanish Classical, Jazz Classical, Brazilian, Latin & Pop Music Idioms. As creator of The Universal Language Music History & Cultural Programme" Mr Blake has taught a variety of audiences from Kindergarten - High Schools, Colleges, Universities, Senior Centers, Libraries, Prisons, Hospitals, Military Installations & Art Galleries about the history of Music.
MR BLAKE'S TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
1997 Recipient Kellogg Foundation Artist In Residence
American International School - Gabon, West Africa
Academy Of African Music & Arts - Kokorobite, Accra Ghana West Africa
University Of Ibadan - Lagos, Nigeria West Africa
Workshop w/Brazza Jazz Club@American Cultural Center - Congo, West Africa
American Cultural Center - Dakar, Senegal West Africa
ADJUNCT PROFESSOR OF ELECTRICAL BASS STUDIES:
LaGrange College - LaGrange, Georgia
Georgia State University - Atlanta, Georgia
Auburn University - Auburn, Alabama
Nassau Community College - Long Island, N.Y
Ironwood State Prison - Blythe, California
Battle Creek Public Schools - Battle Creek, Michigan
The Ensembles Organization - Queens, N.Y
CONCERT TOURS & RECORDINGS:
Alex & His Orchestra Hugh Masakela
Machito & His Orchestra Joe Chambers
Sonny Rollins Harry Belafonte
Rafael Cortijo/El Grand Combo Dom Um Romao
Mongo Santamaria Chaka Khan
Billy Cobham Hiram Bullock
Pharoah Sanders Rashied Ali
Nona Hendryx Leon Thomas
Sonny Fortune Weldon Irvine
Gil Evans Mary Wells
Clark Terry Wynton Marsalis
Wallace Roney Oscar Brown Jr.
Dee Dee Bridgewater Clifford Jordan
Dave Valentin Hilton Ruiz
Bobby Enriquez Melba Moore
Village People Vanessa Rubin
TS Monk Jon Faddis
Angela Bofill
Nina Hagen
BASSIST IN THEATER PRODUCTIONS:
"Dream Girls" - Lunt - Fontanne Theater Production- Broadway, New York City
"Betsy Brown" - Crossroads Theater Production - New Brunswick, New Jersey
"Over Forty" - Billie Holiday Theater Production - Brooklyn, New York
"Sancocho" - Joseph Papp Theater Production - New York City, N.Y
SOLOIST:
NBC-Television Affiliate KNSD 7/39 San Diego (Twice)
Contracted By U.S. State Department Teach/Perform 8 West African Nations
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency - Robson Gallery San Diego, California
Third International Conference MSM 2000 - U.S Grant Hotel San Diego, California
Atlanta Jazz Festival
Montreux Jazz Festival
Miami Jazz Festival
Saalfelden Jazz Festival - Saalfelden, Austria
St. Ingbert Jazz Festival - Germany
Jazz Cafe - London, England
Ironwood State Prison - Blythe, California
Mt. San Jacinto College - San Jacinto, California
Auburn University - Auburn, Alabama