Blake Shaw is a double bassist and vocalist residing in Iowa City, IA where he received his Bachelors in Music in classical double bass performance as well as a Master of Arts degree in jazz studies at the University of Iowa. Shaw has thrived in Iowa City having played with many of the top artists which have taken him as far as Australia and as near as your living room. His main groups at the moment are the Blake Shaw Quintet, Thrio, Goose Town, and the Clinton St Trio.
Shaw writes original material and arranges familiar tunes in new ways with the help of some of the truest musicians Iowa can offer. In the Blake Shaw Quintet (BSQ) Shaw is able to explore new colors and concepts with a band full of composers. Nolan Schroeder (saxes) and Christopher Jensen (drums) both went to the University of Northern Iowa while Shaw met Ryan Smith (saxes, flute) and Dan Padley (guitar) at the U of I. Together they all recorded Shaw’s first vocal jazz album which is to be released in May 2019 called “it happened.” which contains all of his own arrangements of jazz standards played in a way you’ve never heard them played before. In The Blake Shaw Big(ish) Band (11 piece jazz big band) you’ll hear all of these musicians plus six more that include university professors, high school band directors, and more dear friends who just happen to be stellar jazz musicians.
