Michael Blake - Halloween Tales (2026)

All Hallows’ Eve, as it used to be known, has pagan roots but remains a popular annual event—perhaps even surpassing Christmas in popularity. What once was a season for remembering the dead has been overshadowed in the last century by our love for the macabre, trick-or-treating, costumes, parties, and parades. It has also produced a tremendous library of music that is now part of our culture. This album is a curated sample of some of my favorites. Trick or treat!

The chemistry of this group is the result of decades spent playing together. Bassist Ben Allison and I started our collaboration in the late 1980s in my first New York City band, eventually working together in the Jazz Composers Collective and recording many albums together. A decade later, drummer Michael Sarin and I both joined Ben’s group, Peace Pipe, for memorable tours in Europe and a long run at his bar, Kush. Around this time, pianist Gary Versace embarked on a grueling but wonderful Italian tour with my trio, where we balanced the road with humor. Logging all these hours together explains why this music sounds the way it does; we truly enjoy each other's company, adding camaraderie and joy to these Halloween Tales.

An equally vital team exists behind the scenes. I am incredibly grateful to engineer and producer Matt Balitsaris for his expertise. Special thanks to Canadian keyboardist and producer Chris Gestrin for planting the seeds of this project and providing scores for "Halloween" and "The Great Pumpkin Waltz." Finally, a huge thank you to the band and my family for all their support.

Michael Blake - tenor and soprano saxophones
Gary Versace - piano
Ben Allison - bass
Michael Sarin - drums