Welcome to the world of Edward Blankman, a retired dentist who wrote elegant, minimalist jazz in obscurity circa 1970.
At least that’s the story. In truth, Edward Blankman’s Cape Cod Cottage is the 2021 concept album from Echo Park composer Brendan Eder.
A tender, wistful follow up to 2020’s To Mix With Time, the Cape Cod Cottage sound evokes the spirit of Erik Satie, Miles Davis with Gil Evans, and Stevie Wonder, balanced with the accessibility of 1960s lounge-exotica.
Eder created Blankman’s story to channel his own grief, with bittersweet tenderness. Read the liner notes (or watch the mini-doc), and you’ll be transported to the quiet shores of Cape Cod, where a lonely retiree mourns his late wife, Natalie, with walks in nature and evenings at his Wurlitzer.
The story is brought to life with a meticulously crafted package sporting classic liner notes, faux 1970s photographs documenting Edward with the musicians (taken during the actual session), a make-believe jazz label, and a commissioned oil painting of Edward’s cottage.
Eder brought together a dream line up with a ton of chemistry for the project; drummer Christian Euman (Jacob Collier), saxophonist Josh Johnson (Jeff Parker, Leon Bridges), and bassist Alex Boneham (Billy Childs), who all studied together at the Hancock Institute of Jazz. Rounding out the group is flutist Sarah Robinson, a recurring player in Eder’s ensemble, and Edward Blankman (Brendan) on the Wurlitzer.
The cast was booked for a single date with coveted engineer Michael Harris (Kamasi Washington, Angel Olsen) at famed Electro-Vox Recording Studios. To create realism for Edward’s story, the charts were purposefully withheld from the musicians until they arrived at the studio. The result is an authentic and natural performance delivered by players at the top of their game, captured on lauded vintage equipment including the legendary Neve-8028 console.
Cape Cod Cottage will be released on September 10th including a gatefold vinyl.
1. Tuesday at the Pond
2. Cape Cod Cottage
3. Sunlight Through the Leaves
4. Where Else
5. New Dreams
6. Up
7. Discovery at the Beach
8. Three
9. Theme
10. Snowing
11. Retirement
12. Your Bliss
13. Overgrown Garden
14. Heat
15. Natalie
16. Greeting Visual
17. Miss Her
18. Lullaby
19. West Coast
20. Memories
21. Waltz
22. Four
Edward Blankman - Wurlitzer, Percussion
Josh Johnson - Alto Sax
Sarah Robinson - Alto Flute
Alex Boneham - Upright Bass
Christian Euman - Drums
Written and Produced by Brendan Eder
Recorded at Electro-Vox Studios, Hollywood, CA
Engineered by Michael Harris
Mixed by Brendan Eder
Mastered by Mark Chalecki
Photography by Steven Poster
Album Art by Cody Lee Berry
Album Design by DAY Creative
