Brian Blade

Nature's Law - Norah Jones, Brian Blade
DIGITAL
Nature's Law From “Norah...
Norah Jones, Brian Blade
eSingle Audio/Single Track
 
Nature's Law From “Norah Jones is Playing Along” Podcast
Norah Jones, Brian Blade
SCOPRI
Brian Blade Fellowship - Brian Blade
Brian Blade Fellowship
Brian Blade
Vinile
 
Brian Blade Fellowship
Brian Blade
SCOPRI
Mama Rosa - Brian Blade
DIGITAL
Mama Rosa iTunes Version
Brian Blade
eAlbum Audio + Booklet
 
Mama Rosa iTunes Version
Brian Blade
SCOPRI
Brian Blade Fellowship - Brian Blade
DIGITAL
Brian Blade Fellowship
Brian Blade
eAlbum Audio
 
Brian Blade Fellowship
Brian Blade
SCOPRI
BIOGRAFIA
"I remember when I first read the words hanging in a frame on my
grandma Rosa's wall. The serenity prayer was something I couldn't understand
until almost thirty years later, but now after experiencing some peaks and valleys
of life, those words ring in my ears with clarity."

Brian Blade has set those words to music for his first recording as a singer,
guitarist and songwriter: Mama Rosa is a revealing journey through
thirteen songs about family, loved ones, travels and a sense that these things
that shape and inspire us have to be shared with others to complete a circle.
He has been writing and recording material with words for as long as he's been
making music. In fact, Mama Rosa grew naturally from the four-track home
demos that he's recorded over the years and several of the original performances
from those tapes can be heard on this album. Initially, Blade felt that these songs
would never be heard by anyone else, but after encouragement from longtime
friend Daniel Lanois, these home recordings became the cornerstones for the
album. There is an initial spark close to the moment of inspiration and that
intimate vibe is felt throughout Mama Rosa.

"For some time now, these songs have existed in the solitude of my room,
and I got a lot of joy and satisfaction from just knowing that they existed," Blade
says. "But at a certain point I questioned whether it was fear or selfishness that
kept me quiet. Facing the music and the mirror, I began to ask if this was the end
of the process? What does God expect of me? Maybe someone else might find
some inspiration in the songs."

The lyrical themes of home, memories and loved ones, and how they
shape who we are, are reflected in Blade naming the album after his
grandmother. Rosa is the subject of the album's vivid opening track "After The
Revival." Sung from the perspective of his mother Dorothy Blade, expecting the
birth of her first son, Brian's older brother, Brady, Jr. "After the Revival" also
alludes to Blade's early years at the Zion Baptist Church in Shreveport,
Louisiana, where his father is pastor, and where Brian first started singing and
playing the drums.

The multi-talented young veteran is already widely respected in the jazz
world as drummer/composer/leader of Brian Blade and The Fellowship Band,
with whom he has released three albums. He is also known as the drummer for
many heroes of the music world, including Daniel Lanois, Joni Mitchell, Bob
Dylan, Wayne Shorter, Seal, Bill Frisell and Emmylou Harris.
Blade is always searching for the balance that gives a song a personal
story with an outward reaching resonance. One such song of memories is
entitled, "Second Home," a tribute to his teacher, John Vidacovich, and the city of
New Orleans where Brian met Fellowship band mates Jon Cowherd and Chris
Thomas. He lived in the crescent city for seven years while studying with musical
masters Ellis Marsalis, David Lee, Jr. Bill Huntington, Mike Pellera, George
French, Germaine Bazzle, Steve Masakowski and John Mahoney.

Mama Rosa marks a new endeavor for Blade: a lovingly crafted,
emotionally affecting song cycle that's deeply rooted in a rich vein of personal
experience. "All That Was Yesterday", "You'll Always Be My Baby" and "Nature's
Law" show Blade to be a soulful and expressive vocalist and a songwriter
capable of rendering evocative stories that resonate with insight and empathy.
"Revealing more of ourselves is always daunting," says Blade, "but I feel
like I need to keep challenging myself and peeling away layers to get to the core
of who I am and what I have to offer."

Mama Rosa's organic musical palette showcases Blade's diverse talents
on acoustic guitar and drums, and one of the people who has inspired Blade for
many years now, longtime friend and music maker champion, Daniel Lanois.
Lanois is the featured soloist on Mama Rosa, offering perfectly formed and
spiritually elevating Firebird guitar improvisations on the songs "At The
Centerline," "Mercy Angel," "All That Was Yesterday" and "Her Song." In addition,
guitarist Goffrey Moore, steel guitar virtuoso Greg Leisz, bassist Jenny lee
Lindberg (Warpaint ), singer/songwriters Aaron Embry (Amnion), John Bigham
(The Soul of John Black), Rocco Deluca and Daryl Johnson, and the Fellowship
Band members Jon Cowherd, Chris Thomas and Kurt Rosenwinkel all help to
serve the songs brilliantly. A deep sense of brotherhood echoes throughout the
entire recording. Kelly Jones, a truly gifted songstress, blends beautifully with
Blade on "Mercy Angel" and "Get There." Hearing them together brings to mind
the inspiration and long history of touching duos, including Fred and Annie Mae
Macdowell, George Jones and Tammy Wynette, Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton, Johnny and June Carter Cash, Donny Hathaway and Roberta Flack and Sullivan and Iola Pugh (The Consolers). In addition to Blade's original compositions, the album features a memorable adaptation of Brazilian music icon Milton Nascimento's "Faithful Brother," as well as the pair of atmospheric instrumentals, "All Gospel Radio" and "Psalm 100."

"I hope that people will find some personal joy in these songs from Mama
Rosa. The real challenge is to be honest with myself and to let more of who we
are be seen and heard as the songs reveal themselves."