Born on July 25, 1970 in Shreveport, Louisiana, Brian Blade is a jazz drummer, composer, and bandleader. His first became interested in music when he heard gospel and songs of praise at the church where his father served as a pastor. Music appreciation classes in elementary school inspired him to begin learning the violin at the age of nine. By the time he reached middle school, he had gravitated towards the drums and discovered jazz while he was in high school. Blade moved to New Orleans to attend Loyola University and, between 1988 and 1993, studied and performed with master musicians such as Ellis Marsalis, George French, Harold Battiste, John Mahoney, and others. In the early 1990s, he recorded with Kenny Garrett, Darrell Grant, Joni Mitchell, Joshua Redman, Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, Dianne Reeves, Bob James, and others. In 1997, Blade became a bandleader when he formed The Fellowship band with Jon Cowherd (piano), Dave Easley (pedal steel guitar), Jeff Parker (guitar), Chris Thomas (bass), and saxophonists Myron Walden and Melvin Butler. The band’s debut album, Brian Blade Fellowship, was issued in 1998. That release was followed by Perceptual (2000), Season of Changes (2008), Mama Rosa (2009), Landmarks (2014), and Body and Shadow (2017). While the band’s roots are traditional jazz, with each release, their scope began to widen, taking in many more influences and ensuring that the group’s sound has evolved throughout the years. In between his Fellowship commitments, Blade has continued to record with many other artists including Chick Corea, Christian McBride, John Patitucci, André Marques, and more.
