Tangent

Simple Math In recent years, renowned NYC Jazz Pianist, Composer, Arranger, Percussionist, and Producer, Charles Blenzig, relocated from Astoria, Queens to Longmont, Colorado where he has formed an exciting new group, “Simple Math”, featuring Colorado natives, JJ Mazza on Drumz and Hunter Roberts on Basses.The group has a unique, modern sound that comes from a mutual trust, diverse experiences, and magical chemistry. In the tradition of seasoned elders collaborating with the young bloods, this project seeks to blend the “was” with the “iz” for what’s to come with fresh new ides to celebrate the transcendent power of music on the human condition. 

Charles Blenzig is a pianist, composer, arranger, producer and educator, who slips effortlessly among musical styles while retaining his own distinct sound. Born in the Bronx, he was fortunate to hear most of his heroes on any given night in small dingy Manhattan Jazz Clubs and learned his craft the traditional way, by ear. This direct lineage is crucial to his sound as a pianist and composer. Charles was a part of the NYC Jazz scene for over 35 years and has performed at such legendary clubs as The Blue Note, Birdland, The 55 Bar, Sweet Basil, Fat Tuesdays, Smalls, and Mezzrow. His first real visible gig was with the Gil Evans Orchestra which performed every Monday night at Sweet Basil Jazz Club in N.Y.C. for over 8 years. Performing with the Orchestra gave him the opportunity to play some of the most influential arrangements in the history of Jazz and to perform with some the finest musicians in the world including Lou Soloff, Hiram Bullock, Mark Egan, Alex Foster, Delmar Brown, Kenwood Denard, Gil Goldstein, Tim Hagens, John Clarke, Dave Taylor, and George Charles has also collaborated with; Michael Brecker, Gato Barbieri, Bill Evans (Sax w. Miles Davis), Mike Stern, Will Lee, Marcus Miller, Larry Coryell, Joe Beck, Joe Locke, Eddie Gomez, Jerry Bergonzi, Grady Tate, Buster Williams, Roy Ayers, John Patitucci, Billy Hart, Harvey Mason, Alex Foster, Lee Ritenour, Tom Kennedy, Denis Chambers, Dave Weckl, Roy Ayers, Patti Austin, Randy Brecker, John Faddis, and Musical Director for singer/song writer Michael Franks. Michael Brecker, Gato Barbieri, Bill Evans (Sax w. Miles Davis), Mike Stern, Will Lee, Marcus Miller, Larry Coryell, Joe Beck, Joe Locke, Eddie Gomez, Jerry Bergonzi, Grady Tate, Buster Williams, Roy Ayers, John Patitucci, Billy Hart, Harvey Mason, Alex Foster, Lee Ritenour, Tom Kennedy, Denis Chambers, Dave Weckl, Roy Ayers, Patti Austin, Randy Brecker, John Faddis, and Musical Director for singer/song writer Michael Franks. In the late 1990s he hosted The Late Night Session at the iconic Blue Note Jazz Club in the heart of Greenwich Village. The Jam Session was a steady gig for 8 years which made him a recognizable face in the Jazz community as well as introducing him to scores of both seasoned and up and coming musicians from around the globe. Blenzig has been musical director for singer/songwriter Michael Franks for over 30 years for whom he has co-composed, produced, recorded, as well as arranged an evening of Frank’s songs for the Nashville Symphony Orchestra. Michael has taken him on tour all over the world including Africa, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, and Thailand. He has also performed on over 100 recordings, including four CDs as a leader: Charles Blenzig (Chase Music Group 1988), Say What You Mean (Big World Music1993), Certain Standards (True Space Records 1997), and It’s About Time “ (Double Time Records 2003) Along with performing, Charles is passionate about teaching Jazz to the younger generation and was an Associate Professor at the State University Of New York (SUNY) at Purchase for close to 20 years. He now leads ensembles for The Colorado Conservatory of Jazz Arts (CCJA).