Quick Facts
Biography
Brian Blade (born July 25, 1970 in Shreveport, Louisiana) is an American jazz drummer, composer, session musician, and singer-songwriter.
Biography
Early years
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.
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 John 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.
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, pedal steel guitarist Dave Easley and guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel. The Fellowship Band released its debut album, Brian Blade Fellowship, in 1998, Perceptual, in 2000, Season of Changes in 2008 and "Landmarks" in 2014.
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.
While continuing to work with the Fellowship Band, Blade has been a member of Wayne Shorter's quartet since 2000. He has recorded with Daniel Lanois, Joni Mitchell, Ellis Marsalis, Marianne Faithfull, Emmylou Harris, Billy Childs, Herbie Hancock, Dorothy Scott 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 Goffrey 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. The live band includes Steven Nistor on drums.
On April 30, 2016, Blade played at the White House in Washington, D.C., as part of The International Jazz Day Global Concert.
Honors
- 2013: ECHO Jazz Award "International Artist of the Year Drums/Percussion", for Quiver.
Equipment
Blade uses vintage Gretsch, Ludwig, Sonor and Slingerland drums. He plays Canopus drums when touring in Japan. A pair of 50's Zildjian very light rides and a modern 22" Light K Constantinople. His acoustic guitar is a mid-1950s Gibson LG-3.
Discography
As leader
- 1998: Brian Blade Fellowship (Blue Note)
- 2000: Perceptual (Blue Note)
- 2008: Season of Changes (Verve)
- 2009: Mama Rosa (Verve Forecast)
- 2014: Landmarks (Blue Note)
- 2015: Children of the Light (Mack Avenue)
As co-leader
Duo with Wolfgang Muthspiel
- 2007: Friendly Travelers (Material)
- 2008Friendly 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
- 2012: Quiver (Enja)
Trio with Chick Corea and Christian McBride
- 2013: Trilogy (Concord) (Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album)
Trio with John Patitucci and Danilo Pérez
- 2015: Children of the Light (Mack Avenue)
As sideman
With David Binney
- 2001: South (ACT)
- 2004: Welcome to Life (Mythology)
- 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
- 2002:Come Away with Me (Blue Note)
- 2004: Feels Like Home (Blue Note)
- 2016: Day Breaks (Blue Note)
With Daniel Lanois
- 2003: Shine (Anti-)
- 2004: Rockets (self-released)
- 2005: Belladonna (Anti-)
- 2008: Here Is What Is (Red Floor)
- 2010: Black Dub (Red Ink)
- 2014: Flesh And Machine (Anti-)
With Joni Mitchell
- 1998: Painting with Words and Music (DVD, Eagle Rock)
- 1998: Taming the Tiger (Reprise)
- 2002: Travelogue (Nonesuch)
- 2007: Shine (Hear Music)
With Wolfgang Muthspiel
- 2003: Real Book Stories (Quinton)
- 2014: Driftwood (ECM)
- 2016: Rising Grace (ECM)
With John Patitucci
- 2001: Communion (Concord)
- 2003: Songs, Stories & Spirituals (Concord)
- 2006: Line by Line (JVC Victor/Concord)
- 2009: Remembrance (Concord)
With Joshua Redman
- 1994: MoodSwing (Warner Bros.)
- 1995: Spirit of the Moment – Live at the Village Vanguard (Warner Bros.)
- 1996: Freedom in the Groove (Warner Bros.)
- 1998: Timeless Tales (for changing times) (Warner Bros.)
- 2002 Yaya3 (Loma)
- 2002: Elastic (Warner Bros.) with Joshua Redman Elastic Band
- 2005: Momentum (Nonesuch)
- 2007: Back East (Nonesuch)
- 2009: Compass (Nonesuch)
- 2013: Walking Shadows (Nonesuch)
With Wayne Shorter
- 2002: Footprints Live! (Verve)
- 2003: Alegria (Verve)
- 2005: Beyond the Sound Barrier (Verve)
- 2013: Without a Net (Blue Note)
With Edward Simon
- 2006: Unicity (CAM Jazz)
- 2009: Poesia (Cam Jazz)
- 2013: Trio Live in New York (Sunnyside)
With Mark Turner
- 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
- 1995: Brad Mehldau - Introducing Brad Mehldau (Warner)
- 1995: Emmylou Harris - Wrecking Ball (Elektra)
- 1995: Steve Masakowski - Direct Axecess (Blue Note)
- 1995: Jane Siberry - Maria (Reprise)
- 1996: Bob James Trio - Straight Up (Warner Bros.)
- 1997: Steve Earle - "El Corazón" (Warner Bros.)
- 1997: Bob Dylan - Time Out of Mind (Columbia)
- 1998: David Berkman - Handmade (Palmetto)
- 1998: Ryan Kisor - Battle Cry (Criss Cross)
- 1999: Dianne Reeves - Bridges (Blue Note)
- 1999: Elvis Costello, Burt Bacharach, Bill Frisell - ([The Sweetest Punch]] (Verve)
- 2000: Marianne Faithfull - Vagabond Ways (Instinct)
- 2000: Rebekka Bakken and Wolfgang Muthspiel - Daily Mirror (Material)
- 2001: Chris Potter - Gratitude (Verve)
- 2001: Ralph Bowen - Soul Proprietor (Criss Cross)
- 2001: Rick Margitza - Memento (Palmetto
- 2002: Joel Weiskopf - Change in My Life (Criss Cross)
- 2002: David Berkman - Leaving Home (Palmetto Records)
- 2002: Charlie Haden - American Dreams (Verve)
- 2002: Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker, and Roy Hargrove - Directions in Music: Live at Massey Hall (Verve)
- 2003: Danilo Pérez - ...Till Then (Verve)
- 2003: Lizz Wright - Salt (Verve)
- 2004: Helen Sung - Push (Fresh Sound New Talent)
- 2005: Tim Ries - The Rolling Stones Project (Concord)
- 2006: Bob Lanois - Snake Road (Cordova Bay)
- 2006: Mike Holober - Wish List (Sons of Sound)
- 2007: Debbie Deane - Grove House (RKM Music)
- 2007: Sam Yahel - Truth and Beauty (Origin)
- 2008: Alyssa Graham - Echo (Sunnyside)
- 2008: Rebecca Martin - The Growing Season (Sunnyside)
- 2010: Scott Colley - Empire (Cam Jazz)
- 2011: John Scofield - A Moment's Peace (Emarcy)
- 2011: Laura Veirs - Tumble Bee: Laura Veirs Sings Folk Songs for Children (Bella Union)
- 2012: Beth Orton - Sugaring Season (Anti-)
- 2012: Rolf and Joachim Kühn Quartet - Lifeline (Boutique)
- 2012: Davy Mooney - Perrier Street (Sunnyside)
- 2012: Matt Lemmler's New Orleans Jazz Revival Band - Ubuntu (SMartist)
- 2012: Shawn Colvin - All Fall Down (Nonesuch)
- 2013: Iron & Wine - Ghost on Ghost (4AD)
- 2013: Laura Veirs - Warp and Weft (Bella Union)
- 2013: Aga Zaryan - Remembering Nina & Abbey (Parlophone)
- 2013: Jon Cowherd - Mercy (ArtistShare)
- 2014: Antonio Sánchez - Birdman (Milan)
- 2014: Billy Childs - "Map to the treasure: Reimagining Laura Nyro" (Sony Records)
- 2014: Chick Corea Trio - Trilogy (Chick Corea album)|Trilogy]] (Concord)
- 2014: Jenny Scheinman - The Littlest Prisoner (Sony Masterworks)
- 2014: Sarah McLachlan - Shine On (Verve)
- 2015: Joe Jackson - Fast Forward (Caroline)
- 2015: Joel Harrison 5 - Spirit House (Whirlwind)