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Brian Blade

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Not to be confused with Brian Blades.

Brian Blade
Blade at the 2014 Monterey Jazz Festival
Blade at the 2014 Monterey Jazz Festival
Background information
Born (1970-07-25) July 25, 1970 (age 54)
Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S.
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Musician, composer
Instrument(s)Drums, percussion
LabelsNonesuch, Columbia, Verve, Blue Note, Warner Bros.
Websitebrianblade.com
"Landmarks" by Brian Blade and the Fellowship Band
From the 2014 album Landmarks
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Brian Blade (born July 25, 1970) is an American jazz drummer, composer, and session musician.[1]

Early life

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Brian Blade in Aarhus, Denmark 2017

Born and raised in Shreveport, Louisiana,[2] Blade was exposed to gospel and praise music[3] while attending Zion Baptist Church at which his father, Brady L. Blade Sr., was pastor.[4] Blade initially began learning violin and participated in the church choir,[3] an experience which Blade later acknowledged was influential in his musical development.[5] Following in the footsteps of his older brother, Brady Blade Jr.,[6] Blade developed skills on the drum kit while 'depping' for his brother in the church band.[5] Soon after Blade shifted his focus to the drums throughout middle and high school.[7]

During high school, while studying with Dorsey Summerfield Jr.,[6] Blade began listening to the music of John Coltrane and Thelonious Monk, and became increasingly influenced by the drumming styles of Elvin Jones, Art Blakey, Papa Jo Jones, and Paul Motian.[8][5] By the age of eighteen, Brian moved to New Orleans to attend Loyola University.[9] 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.[7][5]

Career

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In 1992 Blade settled in New York and quickly cultivated a reputation as a 'first-call' drummer,[10] including sideman work for Kenny Garrett, Mark Turner, and Joshua Redman.[11][12] 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.[13] The band released its debut album in 1998, Brian Blade Fellowship, and emerged as an innovative proponent of new jazz throughout subsequent decades.[14][15]

Reviewing the ensemble'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.[16]

While continuing his work with the Fellowship Band, Blade emerged as an ongoing member of Wayne Shorter's quartet, working with Shorter from 2000 until his death.[4] Shorter's quartet, also featuring Danilo Pérez and John Patitucci,[17] became widely revered by jazz critics for their "near-telepathic" musical symbiosis.[4] Blade's creative contribution to Shorter's quartet was frequently considered a key component of the group's creativity.[18][19][20] In addition to his collaborations with Wayne Shorter, Blade has remained an in demand drummer for the likes of Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau, Christian McBride, Chick Corea, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Joni Mitchell, Ellis Marsalis Jr., Billy Childs, Herbie Hancock, Norah Jones, among many others.[21]

During his career Blade has often performed outside his usual musical idiom, recording with the likes of Marianne Faithfull, Emmylou Harris, Bob Dylan, and Daniel Lanois.[20][6][22] In 2009, Blade released Mama Rosa, his first album as a singer-songwriter,[23] with songs dedicated to his grandmother and family.[24] The live band includes Steven Nistor on drums.[25]

On April 30, 2016, Blade played at the White House in Washington, D.C., as part of The International Jazz Day Global Concert.[26]

Honors

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Equipment

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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 by 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.[29]

Discography

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Blade at INNtöne Jazzfestival [de] 2006

As leader

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As co-leader

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Trio with Wolfgang Muthspiel and Marc Johnson

  • Real Book Stories (Quinton, 2001)
  • Air, Love, and Vitamins (Quinton, 2004)

Duo with Wolfgang Muthspiel

  • Friendly Travelers (Material, 2007)
  • Friendly Travelers Live (Material, 2008)

Trio with Chick Corea and Christian McBride

Trio with John Patitucci and André Marques

  • Viva Hermeto (Borandá, 2014)

Trio with John Patitucci and Danilo Pérez

Trio with Benjamin Koppel and Scott Colley

  • Collective (ArtistShare, 2014)
  • Perspective (Cowbell Music, 2023)[30]

Trio with Edward Simon and Scott Colley

  • Steel House (ArtistShare, 2015)

Trio with Jeff Denson and Romain Pilon

  • Between Two Worlds (Ridgeway, 2019)
  • Finding Light (Ridgeway, 2022)

Quartet with Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau and Christian McBride

Trio with Wolfgang Muthspiel and Scott Colley

  • Angular Blues (ECM, 2020)

As group

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Yaya3 with Joshua Redman and Sam Yahel

  • Yaya3 (Loma, 2002)

SFJAZZ Collective

  • SFJazz Collective (Nonesuch, 2005) – recorded in 2004

Black Dub with Trixie Whitley, Daniel Lanois and Daryl Johnson

As sideman

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References

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  1. ^ Thomas, Stephen. "Allmusic biography". Allmusic.com. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
  2. ^ "Brian Blade - Biography". Blue Note Records. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Hodge, Eric (2015). "Brian Blade Brings 'Praise From The Heart' to Chapel Hill". WUNC 91.5. No. February 20. WUNC North Carolina Public Radio. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c Roos, Brandon (2018). "Revered Drummer Brian Blade Draws a Through-Line from Jazz to Gospel". KQED. No. Jun 11. KQED Inc. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d Jolley, Craig (2022). "Meet Brian Blade". AllAboutJazz. No. February 17. All About Jazz & Jazz Near You. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c Pellegrinelli, Lara (2013). "O Brothers: Drummers Brian and Brady Blade". A Blog Supreme From NPR Jazz. No. December 10. NPR. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Official site – biography". Brianblade.com. July 25, 1970. Archived from the original on October 6, 2011. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
  8. ^ Davies, Kaleb (2016). "Brian Blade: Serving the music". Oregon Arts Watch. No. February 23. Oregon Arts Watch. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  9. ^ Hirsch, Masako (2009). "Brian Blade kicks off Loyola Jazz Fest". The Maroon. No. March 11. Loyola Student Media. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  10. ^ Scheinin, Richard (2019). "Brian Blade & Life Cycles: Uncorking The Spirit of Bobby Hutcherson". SFJazz. No. September 3rd. San Francisco Jazz Organization. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  11. ^ "Brian Blade Biography". Blue Note Records. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  12. ^ Kopp, Ed (1998). "Mark Turner: In This World". AllAboutJazz. No. December 01. All About Jazz & Jazz Near You. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  13. ^ Solomon, Jon (2011). "Brian Blade on the history of the Fellowship Band and working with Daniel Lanois". Westword. No. September 09. Denver Westword, LLC. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  14. ^ Layman, Will (2017). "Brian Blade and the Fellowship Band: Body and Shadow". PopMatters. No. 10 November. PopMatters Media, Inc. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  15. ^ Chinen, Nate (2023). "Brian Blade the bandleader returns for a ride down 'Kings Highway'". N.P.R. No. July 13. N.P.R. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  16. ^ Kelman, John (April 9, 2014). "Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band: Landmarks". Allaboutjazz.com. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  17. ^ "Brian Blade "I don't want to be a rhythm without a story" – Panorama Magazine". Archived from the original on January 10, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  18. ^ Sinnenberg, Jackson (2017). "Brian Blade on his Fellowship Band at 20, and 'being led by what the music wants'". CapitalBop. No. 10 November. CapitalBop, Inc. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  19. ^ Flynn, Mike (2016). "Wayne Shorter Quartet whip up a storm at Barbican". Jazzwise. No. 21 November. MA Music, Leisure & Travel Ltd. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  20. ^ a b Micallef, Ken (2008). "Brian Blade: Always Be Reacting". Modern Drummer. No. 20 May. Modern Drummer Publications. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  21. ^ "Brian Blade - Discography". Brian Blade. www.brianblade.com/. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  22. ^ Hart, Ron (2014). "Brian Blade: A Landmark Year". Jambands.com. No. 29/11. Relix Media Group, LLC. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  23. ^ Kelman, John (2009). "Brian Blade: Mama Rosa". AllAboutJazz. No. April 21. All About Jazz & Jazz Near You. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  24. ^ Jurek, Thom (April 21, 2009). "Allmusic review – Mama Rosa". Allmusic.com. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
  25. ^ "February 2012 Issue of Modern Drummer". Moderndrummer.com. January 3, 2012. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  26. ^ "International Jazz Day". jazzday.com. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  27. ^ "German ECHO JAZZ 2013 Winners Announced". Londonj Jazz News. Archived from the original on October 5, 2013. Retrieved September 6, 2013.
  28. ^ "Chick Corea Wins Best Improvised Jazz Solo & Best Jazz Instrumental Album | 2021 GRAMMY Awards Show | GRAMMY.com". www.grammy.com. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  29. ^ "Brian Blade's Drum Gear". March 31, 2016.
  30. ^ "Koppel Colley Blade - Perspective (Cowbell)".
  31. ^ "André Marques". Boranda.com.br. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
  32. ^ Collar, Matt (September 9, 2014). "Map to the Treasure: Reimagining Laura Nyro - Billy Childs | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
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