Brian Blade

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 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, 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. 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

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.

As leader

Duo with Wolfgang Muthspiel

Trio with Wolfgang Muthspiel and Marc Johnson

Trio with Ron Miles and Bill Frisell

Trio with Chick Corea and Christian McBride

Trio with John Patitucci and Danilo Pérez

With David Binney

With Kenny Garrett

With Darrell Grant

With Norah Jones

With Daniel Lanois

With Joni Mitchell

With Wolfgang Muthspiel

With John Patitucci

With Joshua Redman

With Wayne Shorter

With Edward Simon

With Mark Turner

With Kenny Werner

With others