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| Brian Blade Fellowship in Perelman Theater  The Kimmel Center's Mellon Jazz Up Close Roots of Jazz Series continues with Spirituals: Brian Blade Fellowship (Brian Blade, drums; Jon Cowherd, piano; Christopher Thomas, bass; Melvin Butler, saxophone; Myron Walden, alto saxophone; Jeff Parker, guitar; Dave Easley, pedal steel guitar;) in Perelman Theater on Saturday, February 10, 2007. Blade's scorching cymbal rhythms and percussion prowess combined with the dual guitar, saxophone and electric piano rhythms of his fellowship take audiences on a spiritual journey of lyrical, introspective jazz. Brian Blade Fellowship will skillfully weave their way through slow-burning improvisational sets found in the exotic, stark mood of "Mojave, " to the resonant drumming, unusual harmonies, and incendiary group swing in the spiritual centerpiece, "Folklore."This is the third concert in the Kimmel Center's Mellon Jazz Up Close series curated by Danilo Perez. The next concert in this series is Crescent City Gospel with Wycliffe Gordon on Saturday, March 10, 2007. Brian Blade's unique drumming styles have been at the forefront of pioneering a new wave of New Orleans-based Dixie music. Blade has recorded with Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Daniel Lanois and Joni Mitchell. He toured with Joshua Redman and Kenny Garrett before forming the Brian Blade Fellowship. Dedicated to creating music without borders, and invoking a sense of connectedness through harmony, the Brian Blade Fellowship is filled with the spirituality, sensitivity, honesty, and loyalty- all traits thematically woven into their work together. Rather than following the course of the notes on a page, the Brian Blade Fellowship breathes life to music through their instruments without being slaves to the composition. The music of the Brian Blade Fellowship encompasses a wide range of jazz styles from across the world. Blade's unique drumming and passion for his craft is seen as he skillfully leads the Fellowship from behind his drum set without any over the top showmanship. The Brian Blade Fellowship released its first CD in 1998, self-titled, and a follow-up CD in 2000, Perceptual. Fellowship members include: Jon Cowherd on piano and Wurlitzer, bassist Christopher Thomas, Melvin Butler on tenor and soprano sax, Myron Walden on alto sax, guitarist Jeff Parker; and Dave Easley on pedal steel guitar. As a youngster growing up in Shreveport, then New Orleans, Louisiana, Brian Blade distilled the unique drumming styles and musical heritage of the nation's spiritual underbelly into a powerfully swinging percussive trademark. Playing drums in his father's church after an initial interest in the violin, Blade immersed himself in the work of Elvin Jones, Tony Williams, Jeff Porcaro, among others. He studied under New Orleans Dixie-drum masters Johnny Vidacovich and Herlin Riley, as well as Ellis Marsalis. With Marsalis, Blade traveled to England and studied with jazz saxophonist Courtney Pine. As a member of the Wayne Shorter Quartet, along with Danilo Prez and John Pattitucci, his recording with the group, Beyond the Sound Barrier, won a Grammy Award in 2006. write your comments about the article :: © 2007 Jazz News :: home page |