Brian Blade: Out From Behind the Drum Kit

Brian Blade has come a long way from the Zion Baptist Church in Shreveport, Louisiana where his father was a pastor. Brian and his brother came up playing music. Then Brian went on to study in New Orleans and it wasn’t long before the talented young drummer was playing with Ellis Marsalis and Joshua Redman.

Brian Blade has recorded with Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Daniel Lanois, and Emmylou Harris. Brian has also played with Bill Frisell and he’s a long time member of the Wayne Shorter Quartet, who he’ll be playing with in Boston this weekend.

Since 1998, Brian Blade has been stretching out his sound, composing and recording with Brian Blade and the Fellowship Band. Now on Mama Rosa, his fourth solo album, Brian stepped out from behind the drums to play guitar and sing. Brian Blade joins us on the line from Los Angeles to tell us about his long road from, or maybe back to, Shreveport and Mama Rosa.

Jazz 40 Fest at New England Conservatory

(Photo by bruno bollaert via Flickr/Creative Commons)