The Boston-based pianist and composer has been skirting along the fine edge of modernism, avant garde, and film scores for decades. Here’s a look back at Ran Blake’s album Looking Glass, which dropped in 2021. Our highlighted track is “Sister Tee.” A piano instrumental that tells a story. Vicissitate in the vicissitudes. Here’s the background:

To New York City. Sister Tee was an incredible woman whom I met at Sweet Daddy Grace’s Church (between Amsterdam and Saint Nicolas Avenue on 125th Street) across from the famous Apollo Theater, where Jeanne Lee and I appeared. Sister Tee would come to assist my landlady, Amelia Lehrfeld, on 113th Street and would often break into gospel songs. During Sunday services, it was incredible seeing her lead a chorus down the aisle.

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