Review: Michael Blake's Chroma Nova - Piccolos Before Rifles (P&M Records)

When Woody Guthrie wrote, "This machine kills fascists" on his guitar (as "adopted" by The Clash and many others) I bet he'd never imagine a homage of 'Piccolos Before Rifle' but indeed, Michael Blake's new album title is that, jazzy, brilliant and much more!

The best jazz album this year since Ilhan Ersahin's Istanbul Sessions 'Mahalle' (see review HERE) as this album has many influence's and flavours being lead by Canadian composer/saxophonist, Michael Blake.

This is a follow-up to Blake's 'Dance Of The Mystic Bliss' (2023) with a similar e.nsemble of musicians; Guilherme Monteiro (guitar), Skye Steele (violin),Rogério Boccato (percussion) with a new bassist, Gili Lopes who blend "modern jazz with elements of Brazilian rock and West African rhythms".

The album/title track, we are told, draws on the scene in Copenhagen, where the Royal Life Guards Music Band makes its daily rounds — flutes leading the way, followed by armed soldiers — prompting Blake to reflect on the paradox of music as a tool of war"  Indeed the title track has a hint of march, inprovisational currents and a yearning for peace.

And there's more connections Copenhagen in that Swedish born-Turkish heritage Ilhan Ersahin NYC living saxophonist-club owner had a roll in Forro In The Dark's 2009's 'Light A Candle' album which featured Monteiro on guitar and his playing is a bit of a linch pin/counter-point to Blake as there's Indo-world connections as well as Blake's spiritual flute playing, as on 'Black Taj' and sax on 'Elephant Crush'.

Similarly, 'Mauritania' (Blake on flute) is clearly inspired by the legendary Ali Farka Touré (who passed away in 2006 and a much loved Charlie Gillett favourite).

Equally stand-out is 'Cold Stone Stan' that remininds me a little of Michael White, and 'Temples' switches to a Monteiro/Skye Steele "feature" but it's unfair to pick out any of the band members individually on this track or the rest of the album as its really a group project; now emphasised with the name, Michael Blake's Chroma Nova.

A classy album that's in your Worldwide FM/BBC Radio 3 jazz envelope of underground mainstream-WOMAD; be prepared to be impressed.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Music | Michael Blake

Artist: Michael Blake's Chroma Nova

Title:  Mahalle      
Release date: 1st May, 2026
Label : P&M Records
Catalog Number: TBC
Format:  LP Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp