Alan Blackman

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Work Samples

Better Left Unsaid

An original song by composer/pianist Alan Blackman set to drone footage by visual artist Taco Hornbaker.

BLACKMAN MURRAY RUSSO- Summertime

Trio playing our arrangement of the Porgy and Bess classic!

BLACKMAN MURRAY RUSSO- Deep and Wide

Original composition by the trio

About Alan

Baltimore City

Baltimore based pianist and award-winning composer. He and his various groups have performed at Blues Alley, the Kennedy Center, and many festivals and venues from San Francisco to New York. Recent performances have been with Donny McCaslin, Joe Locke, Helen Sung, Vardan Ovsepian, Orrin Evans, Ferenc Nemeth, Mike Pope, Warren Wolf, Tim Green, Richie Cole and Othello Molineaux. He was awarded the eastern regional songwriting award by the Gospel Music Association and was selected to be part of the Betty... more

View Alan's Resume

Chapter Three

The latest musical recording from Blackman Murray Russo features original compositions from pianist Alan Blackman and guest artists Gilad Hekselman and Baker Award winner Todd Marcus! This is the third installment of original music put out by this special trio. The glowing reviews are in...

“...It’s poetry in slow motion, words translated into sound...” — All About Jazz.com

“...there is something here, a beauty, that is captivating. [Their music] will be in rotation at my house for a long while...” — Joe Locke

“This group seems to be carried away by the music itself, taking our daydreams along for the ride.” — Robert Sutton

Blackman Murray Russo Chapter Three Gilad Hekselman Todd Marcus

The Coastal Suite

A programmatic long-form suite with equal parts written and improvised. It represents a 24 cycle from pre-dawn until twilight at a remote beach. This work is commissioned by the Chamber Music of America and will feature Donny McCaslin, Rogerio Boccato, Frank Russo, Max Murray, and the composer-pianist Alan Blackman. World Premieres in Baltimore and New York. This work is performed alongside projected images of coastal art by renowned Shetland Island artist, Ruth Brownlee. It was featured on NPR's JazzSet with Dee Dee Bridgewater.

Once upon a prairie

A unique multi-disciplinary excursion blending songs from the American prairies, projected images of prairie art and visionary musical ensemble that explores the addition of pedal-steel guitar with a more traditional jazz quintet.

Phenomena

A musical and photographic excursion through 8 of the most unique natural phenomenon on Earth. Ranging from the Aurora Borealis to Crepuscular Rays to the Murmuration of Swallows, unique original musical compositions tell the story of each occurrence with programmatic beauty.

Pre-production Late 2017

A dream within a dream

An exploration of the romantic early period of Edgar Allen Poe's poetry presented with dramatic readings and original music by Alan Blackman. This concert features a unique twist where bits and pieces of the performance are sample "live" on the spot and used as a backdrop for the reception that follows.

Turning Point

Fresh re-imagining of everything from Brahms to The Beatles to Peter Gabriel, combined with exquisite original compositions by leader Alan Blackman, this marks an auspicious debut recording for a group with limitless possibilities.

The 2 Piano Project

documented recording of a series of two piano performances with guest artists including: Vardan Ovsepian, Sunna Gunnlaugs, Clay Giberson, and Harry Appelman. A second set is coming soon!