Born in Louisiana, Blade developed his unique drumming style from a wide range of influences and teachers including Elvin Jones, John Vidacovich, Art Blakey, David Lee, Jr., and Paul Motian.
Brian has made quite a name for himself as a sideman drummer, playing for artists ranging from Joshua Redman to Joni Mitchell, to Bob Dylan, Daniel Lanois, Kenny Garrett, Pat Metheny, Seal and Emmylou Harris.
His style relies more on tone and subtle flourishes instead of speed, power or in-your-face complexity; attributes that are attractive to leaders who need steadiness in their percussion, not co-leaders.
Brian Blade is also a very capable leader himself and the three opportunities he's taken to be one on an album he's shown a propensity for melody, mood, and ensemble playing.
The Daniel Lanois-produced debut album "The Brian Blade Fellowship" firmly sets down those principles, but it's on "Perceptual" (produced by Blade himself) where such principles are fully realized and executed.
Brian Blade and the Fellowship Band make their Verve Records debut with the release of "Season of Changes", after eight years from "Percetual", released in 2000.
This beautiful and powerful album features acclaimed drummer Blade, pianist and composer Jon Cowherd (piano, pump organ, moog, Wurlitzer), Chris Thomas (bass), Myron Walden (alto saxophone, bass clarinet), Melvin Butler (tenor saxophone), and Kurt Rosenwinkel (guitar).
It features nine new moving works by Blade and Jon Cowherd.
It opens with the gently striking "Rubylou's Lullaby", just one of six Blade compositions on the record, followed by Jon Cowherd's driving "Return of the Prodigal Son", a work in several movements that showcases the amazing guitar work of Kurt Rosenwinkel and the emotive tenor of Melvin Butler.
The record's title track "Season of Changes" is a modern epic penned by Cowherd, revealing his depth and growth as a composer and his ability to write for the entire bands' collective expression. At the pivotal point of the recording, there are two interpretations of "Most Precious One" and "Most Precious One (Prodigy)".
The former starts off with the steady bass mantra, played by Chris Thomas, then transitions into a more layered and beat-driven performance of the composition. "Stoner Hill" and "Alpha and Omega" are both through composed pieces by Blade and the record closes with another of his originals entitled "Omni" which features the soaring alto saxophone of Myron Walden.
The album was recorded and mixed by Tucker Martine and produced by Brian Blade and Jon Cowherd.
Have a great listening experience !
Brian Blade FellowshipPerceptual