Brian Blade

Brian Blade (born July 25, 1970) is an American jazz drummer, composer, session musician, and singer-songwriter.[1]

Not to be confused with Brian Blades.

Brian Blade
Blade at the 2014 Monterey Jazz Festival
Background information
Born (1970-07-25) July 25, 1970
Shreveport, Louisiana, United States
GenresJazz, alternative rock, blues rock, jazz fusion
Occupation(s)Musician, bandleader, composer
InstrumentsDrums, percussion, guitar, violin, recorder
LabelsNonesuch, Columbia, Verve, Blue Note, Warner Bros.
Associated actsJon Cowherd
Websitebrianblade.com

Biography

Early years
Brian Blade in Aarhus, Denmark 2017

Blade was born and raised in Shreveport, Louisiana. The first music he experienced was gospel and songs of praise at the Zion Baptist Church where his father, Brady L. Blade, Sr., has been the pastor for fifty-two years. In elementary school, music appreciation classes were an important part of his development and at age nine, he began playing the violin. Inspired by his older brother, Brady Blade, Jr., who had been the drummer at Zion Baptist Church, Brian shifted his focus to the drums throughout middle and high school.[2]

During high school, while studying with Dorsey Summerfield, Jr., Blade began listening to the music of John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Art Blakey, Thelonious Monk, Elvin Jones, and Joni Mitchell. By the age of eighteen, Brian moved to New Orleans to attend Loyola University. From 1988 through 1993, he studied and played with most of the master musicians living in New Orleans, including Johnny Vidacovich, Ellis Marsalis, Steve Masakowski, Bill Huntington, Mike Pellera, John Mahoney, George French, Germaine Bazzle, David Lee, Jr., Alvin Red Tyler, Tony Dagradi and Harold Battiste.[2]

The Fellowship Band and sideman work

In 1997, Blade formed The Fellowship Band with pianist Jon Cowherd, bassist Chris Thomas, saxophonists Myron Walden and Melvin Butler, guitarist Jeff Parker, and pedal steel guitarist Dave Easley. The band released its debut album, Brian Blade Fellowship, in 1998, Perceptual (with guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel) in 2000, Season of Changes in 2008, Landmarks in 2014, and Body and Shadow in 2017.

Reviewing the band's 2014 Landmarks album, John Kelman wrote:

As the Fellowship Band has grown, it has moved away from overt traditional references, even though they're an undercurrent throughout. Instead, as it explores milestones both inner and outer, Landmarks further speaks with the singular voice that the Fellowship Band has built upon since inception. Blending folkloric references, hints of church and spiritual concerns, jazz modality and countrified touchstones, Landmarks is the perfect name for Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band's fourth album; beyond its meaning to the group, it truly is yet another landmark recording in the core quintet's evolutionary travels. It may have come after a long gap in time, but that only makes it a wait all the more worthwhile.[3]

While continuing to work with the Fellowship Band, since 2000 Blade has also been a member of Wayne Shorter's quartet. He has also recorded with Daniel Lanois, Joni Mitchell, Ellis Marsalis, Marianne Faithfull, Emmylou Harris, Billy Childs, Herbie Hancock, and Bob Dylan.

Singer-songwriter work

In 2009, Blade released Mama Rosa, his first album as a singer-songwriter, with songs dedicated to his grandmother and family. The album featured Daniel Lanois, vocalists Kelly Jones and Daryl Johnson, bassist Chris Thomas, guitarists Kurt Rosenwinkel and Geoffrey Moore, pedal steel guitarists Greg Leisz and Patrick Smith, and pianists Aaron Embry and Jon Cowherd. It was co-produced by Brian Blade and Adam Samuels.[4] The live band includes Steven Nistor on drums.[5]

On April 30, 2016, Blade played at the White House in Washington, D.C., as part of The International Jazz Day Global Concert.[6]

Honors

Equipment

Blade uses vintage Gretsch, Ludwig, Sonor and Slingerland drums. He plays Canopus drums when touring in Japan. He has used a variety of cymbals over the years, including multiple ride cymbals made from Roberto Spizzichino, vintage A Zildjians, and often a 22" Zildjian K Constantinople Light Ride (discontinued model). His acoustic guitar is a mid-1950s Gibson LG-3.

Discography
Blade at INNtöne Jazzfestival 2006

As leader

As co-leader

Duo with Wolfgang Muthspiel
  • 2007: Friendly Travelers (Material)
  • 2008: Friendly Travelers Live (Material)

Trio with Wolfgang Muthspiel and Marc Johnson
  • 2001: Real Book Stories (Quinton)
  • 2004: Air, Love, and Vitamins (Quinton)

Trio with Ron Miles and Bill Frisell

Trio with Chick Corea and Christian McBride

Trio with John Patitucci and Danilo Pérez

As sideman

With David Binney
  • 2001: South (ACT)
  • 2004: Welcome to Life (Mythology)
  • 2005: Afinidad (Red Records)
  • 2007: Océanos (Criss Cross) with Edward Simon
  • 2009: Third Occasion (Mythology)
  • 2011: Graylen Epicenter (Mythology)

With Kenny Garrett
  • 1992: Black Hope (Warner Bros.)
  • 1995: Triology (Warner Bros.)
  • 1996: Pursuance: Music of John Coltrane (Warner Bros.)
  • 2006: Beyond the Wall (Nonesuch)

With Darrell Grant
  • 1994: Black Art (Criss Cross)
  • 1995: The New Bop (Criss Cross)
  • 1999: Smokin' Java (Lair Hill)
  • 2007: Truth and Reconciliation (Origin)

With Norah Jones

With Daniel Lanois

With Joni Mitchell

With Wolfgang Muthspiel

With John Patitucci
  • 2001: Communion (Concord)
  • 2003: Songs, Stories & Spirituals (Concord)
  • 2006: Line by Line (JVC Victor/Concord)
  • 2009: Remembrance (Concord)
  • 2014: Viva Hermeto! (Borandá)[8]

With Joshua Redman

With Wayne Shorter

With Edward Simon
  • 2005: Afinidad (Red Records)
  • 2006: Unicity (CAM Jazz)
  • 2009: Poesia (Cam Jazz)
  • 2013: Trio Live in New York (Sunnyside)

With Mark Turner
  • 1998: Mark Turner (Warner Bros.)
  • 1998: In This World (Warner Bros.)
  • 2000: Ballad Session (Warner Bros.)

With Kenny Werner
  • 2006: Democracy (Half Note)
  • 2007: Lawn Chair Society (Blue Note)

With others

References
  1. Thomas, Stephen. "Allmusic biography". Allmusic.com. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
  2. "Official site – biography". Brianblade.com. July 25, 1970. Archived from the original on October 6, 2011. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
  3. Kelman, John. "Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band: Landmarks". Allaboutjazz.com. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  4. Jurek, Thom (April 21, 2009). "Allmusic review – Mama Rosa". Allmusic.com. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
  5. "February 2012 Issue of Modern Drummer". Moderndrummer.com. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  6. "International Jazz Day". jazzday.com. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  7. "German ECHO JAZZ 2013 Winners Announced". Londonj Jazz News. Archived from the original on October 5, 2013. Retrieved September 6, 2013.
  8. "André Marques". Boranda.com.br. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
  9. Matt Collar (September 9, 2014). "Map to the Treasure: Reimagining Laura Nyro - Billy Childs | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
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