Splinks (1993)

"Perhaps Blonk's most accessible album to date, the vocalist leads his jazz septet through all sorts of gyrations for eleven very different numbers. Using fairly traditional instrumentation of trumpet, trombone, alto saxophone, plus guitar, bass, and drums (with Blonk on vocals, as well as doubling on alto and tenor saxophones), the band shows strong jazz roots, with plenty of solid mainstream improvisation, as well as Blonk's signature left-of-center humor and abstract forays. Trumpeter Angelo Verploegen, bassist Jacko Schoonderwoerd, and guitarist Lorand Sarna display strong chops, and longtime collaborator alto saxophonist Bart van der Putten is sensational. But, as always, what makes this recording so special is the way Blonk arranges the tunes, each a unique collage of sounds, with the vocalist's elastic vocal cords at the fore. Blonk's slapstick rendition of the Dutch reaction to bebop and his humorous take on Soviet Soul are among the highlights." (AllMusic)