The New York Times once wrote: "Only Ran Blake sounds like Ran Blake." Although the pianist born in 1935 studied under piano legends such as Oscar Peterson and took private lessons from Mary Lou Williams, he soon cut loose and developed his own sounds and structures. He has become one of the most authoritative musicians and composers of the "Third Stream" and has a chair for this at the New England Conservatory till today. His students repeatedly cite him as a decisive influence: Don Byron, Matthew Shipp, Don Medeski and – not the least – Between The Lines artist Yitzhak Yedid.
