Blake Wilner

Jazz guitarist / composer

Blake Wilner was born in Perth, Western Australia in 1973 and has been based in London since 1999. Before moving to the UK, Wilner spent time in New York where he studied and performed with jazz greats Rufus Reid, Richie De Rosa, Mick Goodrick, Kenny Wessell and Jeff Ciampa.

His time in New York inspired his 2000 album of original compositions, A Thought of NYU for which he was awarded an ARTSWA grant to record. Wilner's second album, The Bookshop, was released in 2002 and featured music composed and inspired whilst living in London. In 2003 and 2004 he led the quartet on highly acclaimed Arts Council of England sponsored tours of the UK, the second of which promoted the UK release of his third recording The Reprieve.

He composed extensively during and after a 2005 stint in New York which led to the subsequent recording of the quartets fourth CD, Interloper. This was released in June 2006.

The quartet has been featured on several esteemed compilations, including May 2004's Jazzwise CD of Cheltenham Jazz Festival artists.

The quartet has performed at such renowned festivals as the Cheltenham Jazz Festival, the Greenwich Jazz Festival and the City of London Festival and at numerous venues throughout the UK and Australia. Wilner received a CMTP award by the DCITA in order for the group to tour Australia and promote 'Interloper'. The tour extensively covered Australia and took place in June/July 2006. This was followed up by a Jazz Services sponsored tour of the UK in 2007.

Since arriving in London Wilner has also performed widely as a freelance musician with numerous renowned musicians and is currently the guitarist with Universal artistes the Puppini Sisters. He has toured and performed at prestigious festivals and venues throughout France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Russia, Poland, Switzerland, Austria, USA, Australia, UK, Thailand, Belgium, Holland and Greece.

Blake is also a contributing teacher/writer for Just Jazz Guitar magazine and has just been featured in a book entitled '50 Guitarists' which gives an historical and geographical perspective to fifty of the most accomplished, UK based guitarists. His recordings, The Reprieve and Interloper have also been included in the infamous Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings. The Reprieve reached the finals of the Sony International Jazz Competition for independent recordings. Wilner was also featured in a Jazz Review article entitled 'Ten musicians you must hear'.

Blake endorses Toon and Rizzolo guitars and AER amplifiers.

He has a Certificate of Music from both the Australian Institute of Music, and the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and an Associate Degree of Music for jazz performance from WAAPA. He has held teaching positions at the London Centre of Contemporary Music, Kingston University and the Blackheath Conservatoire, as well as several renowned Secondary Schools.
“Bring it on. Interloper punches the lights out and announces Wilner's certain arrival in the major league. It's a bad-ass band with brains.” Chris May, All About Jazz (2006)

“Whilst leavening the jazz chops with outside rock and funk elements, Blake doesn't compromise his stance as a firm individualist.” Martin Longley, Jazz Review

“Blake Wilner is an individual voice on guitar. Reflective, with a distinctive approach to composition, his pieces are lyrical, melodic and attractive. Solos are clean and spacious, and the result of concentrated thought. His career usefully demonstrates the international nature of jazz, and its ability to absorb music from anywhere in the world.” Mike Butler, Metro

“An accomplished composer... whose music has an auspicious emotional and structural range.” Jazz Journal International

“As with many of the evening's other pieces, the work then strayed into emotionally ambiguous territory, with tempestuous outbursts and moments of astounded revelation. An imaginative and original quartet.” James Griffiths, The Guardian

“This is contemporary jazz at its best and some of the finest dynamic music on current offer.” Wes Gillespie, EuroclubdeJazz

Link to www.blakewilnergroup.com.