Landon Knoblock

08.28.08 | New Review, New Shows, and New Albums
Just found a new review for "The Heartbeat, The Breath" on www.jazzconvention.net. Check it out under "Press". A few new shows have been confirmed for the winter, including another quartet gig with Ben Allison, Ron Horton, and Jeff Davis. It was a lot of fun last time, and I am really looking forward to this next one. I've updated my "Albums" section with some recent records that I've recorded on as a sideman. Check out Joe Rehmer's "Tazer Room" and Peter Yanowitch's "Harmoniam", they are really beautiful.

07.25.08 | "The Heartbeat, The Breath", featured on a cool blog News Del Mondo
I just found this posted online. My record is featured, with the liner notes and my description of the music. Click on the link to read the notes, listen to a clip, and see a video.

07.24.08 | Just played a great show with Katie Bull
I just played a great gig at the 55 Bar with Katie Bull. Katie is an eclectic, left of center singer who writes beautiful songs with a sweet heart. Her band had Joe Fonda on bass, Harvey Sorgen on drums, and Jeff Lederer on sax. The music was loose and beautiful, with lots of nice moments. It felt really good to just open up with these guys. Click on the link to visit her website.

05.29.08 | The Landon Knoblock Trio, "The Heartbeat, The Breath", released on CAMjazz
When Ermanno Basso from CAMjazz called me in December, asking me if I wanted to record a trio record, I knew I had to make something special. I had been thinking about the idea of human optimism and human imperfection, and how the two themes relate. I wanted to musically express the human nature of striving beyond one's self, of setting goals and aspirations, in spite of failure. There is much beauty in the imperfect nature of people, and the music on this album captures that feeling. Or, as Italian writer and musicologist Federico Soppio puts it, "The sound of this trio is elegant and solemn, like a gunman at noon, ready for a shootout." What more is there to say?

The record is available on www.CAMjazz.com, Itunes and Amazon. Just search my name, it will come up.

04.21.08 | Creatures With Striking Features
I am officially announcing the existence of this group, although we have been playing together for the better part of 5 years. Creatures With Striking Features is a trio featuring Austin McMahon on drums and Phil Doyle on Saxophone. The music is totally improvised, and can go from crazy to subdued in a heartbeat. Phil Doyle is also prone to cathartic moments, like when at the last recording session we asked him to play how he felt about living in Champaign, IL. We were subsequently pummeled by an atonal barrage reminiscent of the sound of a water buffalo dying. Soooo, music from the session will be released soon, I know you want to hear it.

01.29.08 | NEW RELEASE: Dan Kinzelman "Goodbye Castle"
This past summer (2007) Austin McMahon (drums), Joe Rehmer (bass), and I traveled to Italy to record and perform with the saxophonist Dan Kinzelmen. That record has just been released on CAMjazz.

"The event you are about to hear is totally imaginary. The modus operandi is well known, public events are borrowed from history books, and yet, it is the interpretation offered that renders the truths of totally imagined reconstructions related to the past. This is the strength, the burning power, of this young quartet. The four components, who are well aware of all that history has placed at their disposal, have appropriated the past with a feeling all their own." (F.Scoppio)

Making music with Dan was an incredible experience, and I am very proud of the album. It is available on itunes, or directly from the CAMjazz site linked here.

01.02.08 | Recording with Ron Horton
Two weeks ago I had the privilege to play with the extraordinary trumpet player Ron Horton. Ron recorded with us on the new Peter Yanowitch record, to be released sometime in the spring. Playing with Ron was an amazing experience. He brings so much creativity and musicality to the table every time he puts the horn to his lips. He also is an incredibly nice guy. Austin McMahon, Jay Foote, and Steve Pardo were also on the session. They played beautifully as well. Overall, this was on of the best recording sessions that I have been a part of, and I am looking forward to the release of the album.

12.19.07 | New pictures posted in media section
I have posted some photos of recent performances in my media section. A few are from Italy, and a few are from a show with a singer named Saki Minamimoto. Enjoy!

12.19.07 | NEW ALBUM RELEASED
I am happy to announce the release of my new album, "Landon Knoblock and Jason Furman: Uncarved Block". Please take the time to check out the music by clicking the adjacent link. Thanks so much, here is the third person description:

An introspective jazz pianist meets a shredding drummer with musical sensibilities. Improvised songs, with a little prepared piano and double bass drum thrown in for good measure.

For seven years, Landon Knoblock and Jason Furman worked in the Miami music scene, performing at weddings, clubs, and corporate gigs. They never performed jazz or creative music together, only Top 40 and Pop music. On a whim, they decided to do a recording session, shortly before Landon moved to Brooklyn. With no musical agenda, and a few hours in the studio, Landon and Jason improvised songs just for fun. This recording is the result. A mix of melody and cacophony, double bass drum and brushes, prepared piano and toy piano, this album covers a broad spectrum of moods and textures. Although the music sounds composed at times, the performances were completely improvised with minor edits to establish individual tracks. Highly artistic and purely interactive, Landon Knoblock and Jason Furman create an organic performance that resists traditional stereotypes, drawing the listener into a new realm of creative music.

10.07.07 | New myspace music
Before the summer, drummer Jason Furman and I went into the studio and recorded 4 hours of free music. I recently finished mixing the session, and I have posted four tracks on my myspace page. The full album will be released this winter. Jason and I are an unlikely pairing for a duo record; all of our prior music experience consisted of top40 and pop gigs in South Florida. On a whim, we decided to play free together and I am really happy that we did. Jason does not play like most jazz drummers. He is an incredibly skilled musician with huge ears and a strong compositional sense. I look forward to the next time we play together . . .

09.18.07 | New reviews posted in "Press"
Two new reviews are posted in the press section. One is of our trio performance at the Young Jazz In Town Festival in Foligno Italy. The other is a review of my trio album "Listening Between", by the Italian music critic Roberto Di Virits, part of Fabio Ciminiera's www.JazzConvention.net. I am happy to have made such a positive impression on our tour, and I hope we can go back to Italy soon.

08.15.07 | Effective immediately
I am currently a resident of Brooklyn, New York. I moved up at the beginning of August, and I am getting settled and acclimated. Nothing on the books yet, but it is really great to be here. I feel like I've been in a bit of a cultural void for the past 6 years, and I'm just starting to get a taste of what's new.

If you are in the area and would like to play or just say hi, shoot me an e-mail!

07.03.07 | Great Tour
I got back from being on the road last week. We had an excellent State side tour, playing great shows in Savannah, DC, and Boston. Austin McMahon and I flew to Italy, and had an amazing experience recording and playing. We met so many wonderful people and had some excellent experiences. After spending almost three weeks in Italy, we flew back to the States and played a show at Rockwood Music Hall in New York. Thanks to everyone who came out, it was a great show, a nice venue, and a beautiful audience. I have one more show in Miami, Arturo Sandoval Club on July 19th, with the trio, and then a move coming up. This has been a great summer so far, hopefully with more to come. All the best!

06.05.07 | Jazz Trio plays Young Jazz In Town Festival, Foligno, Italy
The trio played the Young Jazz In Town Festival in Foligno, Italy, this weekend. The show was excellent. We played before Antonello Salis, a far out pianist. There were many amazing musicians, and good times were had by all. I've posted a song from the concert, "Shortcomings", in the downloads section. Enjoy!

05.10.07 | Jazz Trio starts tour blog, "BLANDOLOG", posts mp3 in downloads section
the Landon Knoblock trio posts headlines and stories from their east coast tour. Click the link, or visit www.myspace.com/landonknoblock.

04.27.07 | Stainbar cancelled, Recording Session booked
Unfortunately, we had to cancel our gig in Brooklyn at the Stainbar. Fortunately, we were cancelling it because we got a recording session in Italy, and we need to fly out a few days earlier. The record will be under Dan Kinzelman's name. He's an excellent reed player. We are doing our shows in Italy with him. Check out his myspace, linked to this post.

04.13.07 | Quartet Fantastique releases album, music by Peter J. Yanowitch
Peter Yanowitch is a miami based professional who writes music. He commissioned the Quartet Fantastique to record his music. This album is the result. We are really proud of the final product. The music is energetic and creative. We really captured some nice moments. The record is available on CDbaby and Itunes. Check out the link. Thanks!

04.03.07 | The Trio goes on tour
We are going on tour in May, eight dates up the east coast, and six dates in Italy with my friend Dan Kinzelman. Some other shows might come up in the meantime. If we're playing near you, I hope to meet you.

03.12.07 | Landon Knoblock Trio @ Arturo Sandoval Jazz Club
The trio is performing at Miami's only real jazz club on Wednesday, April 18th, 8:30pm and 10:30pm. This is a special show, as it is two days after my birthday. I will not play happy birthday to myself. I could really use your support at this show, as it is generally a tough venue to get people to come out to. I truly hope to see you there. Thanks!

03.12.07 | More MP3s added to the Download section
I have added mp3s from the CD release concert in the downloads section. The recordings are of my trio. If you weren't able to make it, you can check out the music. Thanks!

03.02.07 | YouTube
I am posting videos on youtube. Right now they are of me playing free music solo piano, but they can eventually include any videos of my music groups. I hope you have a chance to check out my youtube page.

02.26.07 | Live MP3s available for download
I have added two new MP3s to the Downloads section. They are from a recent performance of the Quartet Fantastique. The songs are new compositions of mine that are currently untitled. I would love to hear your suggestions for titles. Please download and enjoy them!

02.25.07 | CD RELEASE PARTY AND COCKTAIL RECEPTION
A special concert and cocktail reception to celebrate the release of "Listening Between".

To be held at MAC: Miami Art Central
5960 SW 57th Ave, Miami, 33143 - (305) 455-3333.Click on the link for directions.
Time: 6:30pm - 10:00
Sun, Feb. 25

I invite you to come and join us for this event. The concert will feature Austin McMahon on drums and Joe Rehmer on bass.

02.10.07 | "Listening Between" To be Featured on WDNA 88.9
Saturday, Feb. 10th 8:00am 88.9 WDNA Ed Blanco will feature "Listening Between" on his morning show, Straight, no Chaser. The music will also be n Sunday's playist too. Tune in if you're up early!

02.04.07 | "Listening Between" is available on Itunes
I am happy to inform you that my CD, "Listening Between", is available for download on Itunes. Just search for my name, Landon Knoblock. It is very affordable, I encourage you to download it. Thank you so much!

01.16.07 | Landon Knoblock "Listening Between" released and available
This acoustic piano trio record also features some cuts with tenor saxophonist Phil Doyle. Half of the tracks are Landon's compositions, the other half are free improvisations. Music from this album is featured on this website. The CD is available through this website here, or at the link above.