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.

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

• Brian Blade Fellowship (Blue Note, 1998)
• Perceptual (Blue Note, 2000)
• Season of Changes (Verve, 2008)
• Mama Rosa (Verve Forecast, 2009)
• Landmarks (2014)

As co-leader

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 Ron Miles and Bill Frisell

• Quiver (Enja, 2012)

As sideman

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

With Joshua Redman

• Compass
• Back East
• Mood Swing
• Freedom in the Groove
• Spirit of the Moment - Live at the Village Vanguard
• Timeless Tales (for changing times)
• Elastic (with Joshua Redman Elastic Band)
• Momentum
• Yaya3

With Wayne Shorter

• Footprints Live! (Verve, 2002)
• Alegria (Verve, 2003)
• Beyond the Sound Barrier (Verve, 2005)
• Without a Net (Blue Note, 2013)

With Joni Mitchell

• Taming the Tiger (Reprise, 1998)
• Travelogue (Nonesuch, 2002)
• Shine (Hear Music, 2007)

With others

• 1994 - Darrell Grant: Black Art (Criss Cross Jazz)
• 1995 - Brad Mehldau: Introducing Brad Mehldau (1995, Warner)
• 1995 - Steve Masakowski: Direct Axecess (1995, Blue Note)
• 1995 - Kenny Garrett: Triology (1995, Warner)
• 1995 - Darrell Grant: The New Bop (Criss Cross Jazz)
• 1995 - Jane Siberry: Maria (Reprise)
• 1996 - Kenny Garrett: Pursuance: Music of John Coltrane (Warner)
• 1997 - Steve Earle: "El Corazón" (Warner)
• 1997 - Bob Dylan: Time Out of Mind (Columbia)
• 1998 - David Berkman: Handmade (Palmetto)
• 1998 - Ryan Kisor: Battle Cry (Criss Cross Jazz)
• 1998 - Joni Mitchell: Painting with Words and Music (DVD, Eagle Rock)
• 2006 - John Patitucci: Line by Line (JVC Victor/Concord)
• 2001 - Chris Potter: Gratitude (Verve)
• 2001 - David Binney: South (ACT)
• 2002 - Joel Weiskopf: Change In My Life (Criss Cross Jazz)
• 2002 - Charlie Haden: American Dreams (Verve)
• 2002 - Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker, and Roy Hargrove: Directions in Music: Live at Massey Hall (Verve)
• 2002 - Norah Jones: Come Away With Me (Blue Note)
• 2003 - Daniel Lanois: Shine (ANTI-)
• 2004 - Helen Sung: Push (Fresh Sound New Talent)
• 2004 - David Binney: Welcome to Life (Mythology)
• 2006 - Kenny Garrett: Beyond the Wall (Nonesuch)
• 2006 - Edward Simon: Unicity (CamJazz Records)
• 2007 - Darrell Grant: Truth and Reconciliation (Origin Records)
• 2007 - Sam Yahel: Truth and Beauty (Origin Records)
• 2009 - Edward Simon: Poesia (CamJazz Records)
• 2009 - David Binney: Third Occasion (Mythology)
• 2010 - Daniel Lanois: Black Dub (Red Ink)
• 2010 - Scott Colley: Empire (Cam Jazz)
• 2011 - David Binney: Graylen Epicenter (Mythology)
• 2012 - Rolf and Joachim Kühn Quartet: Lifeline (Boutique)
• 2012 - Davy Mooney: Perrier Street (Sunnyside)
• 2013 - Edward Simon: Trio Live In New York (Sunnyside)
• 2013 - Iron and Wine: Ghost on Ghost (4AD)
• 2013 - Chick Corea: Trilogy (Concord)
• 2013 - Aga Zaryan: Remembering Nina & Abbey (Parlophone)

[ Source: Wikipedia ]