Brian Blade and the Fellowship Band make Verve debut on May 6, 2008
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props4pops
Feb 16, 2008, 7:12:03 AM2/16/08
to nola music announce
Acclaimed drummer-led ensemble shines on SEASON OF CHANGES
On Tuesday, May 6, 2008, Brian Blade and the Fellowship Band will make
their Verve Records debut with the release of Season of Changes. 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).
Season of Changes features nine new moving works by Blade and Jon
Cowherd. This is the first Fellowship recording in eight years and
follows their two previous recordings: 1998's eponymous debut
(produced by Daniel Lanois) and Perceptual, released in 2000.
Season of Changes 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.
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. Aside from
the Fellowship Band, Blade has performed with such artists as Daniel
Lanois, Joni Mitchell, Kenny Garrett, Joshua Redman, Pat
Metheny, Seal, Bob Dylan and Emmylou Harris.
##
BRIAN BLADE AND THE FELLOWSHIP BAND
Season of Changes is the third album and first Verve release by Brian
Blade and the Fellowship Band, the visionary ensemble that matches
renowned drummer/composer Blade with the formidable talents of pianist
and composer Jon Cowherd, Kurt Rosenwinkel (guitar), Chris Thomas
(bass), Myron Walden (alto saxophone, bass clarinet) and Melvin Butler
(tenor saxophone).
The album features nine moving new works by Blade and Cowherd, and
offers a compelling distillation of the compositional eloquence and
collective chemistry that have made Blade and his longtime bandmates
one of contemporary jazz's most respected ensembles.
True to its title, Season of Changes (produced by Blade and Cowherd)
finds the players pursuing their collective muse into emotionally
evocative new territory. The album opens with the gently striking
"Rubylou's Lullaby," one of the album's six Blade compositions,
followed by Cowherd's driving, multi-movement "Return of the Prodigal
Son," which showcases Rosenwinkel's stellar guitar work and Butler's
emotive tenor. The title track is a modern epic that reveals
Cowherd's depth and growth as a composer, as well as his ability to
write for the band's collective expression. Another highlight is
"Most Precious One" and its companion piece "Most Precious One
(Prodigy)." The former starts off with Thomas' steady bass mantra,
and then transitions into a more layered, beat-driven performance of
the composition. The album closes with the Blade composition "Omni,"
which features Walden's soaring alto.
Season of Changes is the group's first album in eight years, following
1998's Daniel Lanois-produced Brian Blade Fellowship and 2000's
Perceptual, which Blade and Cowherd co-produced.
The Louisiana-bred Blade's remarkable percussive sensitivity and
versatility were nurtured in his hometown of Shreveport and later in
New Orleans under the tutelage of such mentors as John Mahoney, Steve
Masakowski, Bill Huntington, George French, Ellis Marsalis and
drumming masters John Vidacovich and David Lee, Jr. In recent years,
he's balanced his Fellowship activities with his parallel career as
one of today's most in-demand drummers, with a resume that includes
recording and/or live work with a broad range of musical artists that
includes Daniel Lanois, Bob Dylan, Bill Frisell, Kenny Garrett,
Emmylou Harris, Joni Mitchell, Joshua Redman, Seal and Wayne Shorter.
Despite his and his cohorts' prestigious individual resumes, Blade
emphasizes the Fellowship Band's collaborative focus. "I feel less
like a leader than I feel like I'm trying to be part of an enduring
collective statement," he states. "It's always a learning experience
to take the trip and see what happens when we mix and mingle as a
band. Everybody gives everything to it, and it's always a joyful
experience, even when the music is melancholy."
"When I'm writing for the Fellowship," Blade explains, "Myron and
Melvin and Chris and Jon and Kurt are always in my mind and I'm
writing for their voices. The music on paper sits dormant, until I
bring it to them and they inject it with their energy. That's when it
becomes real. It's the same with Jon's writing; it always inspires me
to hear what he's working on, because he has a real talent for
bringing out the gifts of the group."
The musicians' individual talents and organic rapport make Season of
Changes a memorable evocation of Brian Blade and the Fellowship Band's
singular brilliance. "I feel really blessed to be a part of this
group," Blade asserts, "and to know these people and to feel such
dedication and emotional investment in being a part of this band.
It's not something that you can put on paper; it's a chemical reaction
that comes from people having a connection, and in our case it keeps
growing. Even if we have a lot of time away from each other, the
thread is held, and it's still there when we come back to it. It
really feels like coming home to my family."
Brian Blade and the Fellowship Band: Season of Changes (Verve)
B0010696, available May 6, 2008.
##
On Tuesday, May 6, 2008, Brian Blade and the Fellowship Band will make
their Verve Records debut with the release of Season of Changes. 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).
Season of Changes features nine new moving works by Blade and Jon
Cowherd. This is the first Fellowship recording in eight years and
follows their two previous recordings: 1998's eponymous debut
(produced by Daniel Lanois) and Perceptual, released in 2000.
Season of Changes 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.
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. Aside from
the Fellowship Band, Blade has performed with such artists as Daniel
Lanois, Joni Mitchell, Kenny Garrett, Joshua Redman, Pat
Metheny, Seal, Bob Dylan and Emmylou Harris.
##
BRIAN BLADE AND THE FELLOWSHIP BAND
Season of Changes is the third album and first Verve release by Brian
Blade and the Fellowship Band, the visionary ensemble that matches
renowned drummer/composer Blade with the formidable talents of pianist
and composer Jon Cowherd, Kurt Rosenwinkel (guitar), Chris Thomas
(bass), Myron Walden (alto saxophone, bass clarinet) and Melvin Butler
(tenor saxophone).
The album features nine moving new works by Blade and Cowherd, and
offers a compelling distillation of the compositional eloquence and
collective chemistry that have made Blade and his longtime bandmates
one of contemporary jazz's most respected ensembles.
True to its title, Season of Changes (produced by Blade and Cowherd)
finds the players pursuing their collective muse into emotionally
evocative new territory. The album opens with the gently striking
"Rubylou's Lullaby," one of the album's six Blade compositions,
followed by Cowherd's driving, multi-movement "Return of the Prodigal
Son," which showcases Rosenwinkel's stellar guitar work and Butler's
emotive tenor. The title track is a modern epic that reveals
Cowherd's depth and growth as a composer, as well as his ability to
write for the band's collective expression. Another highlight is
"Most Precious One" and its companion piece "Most Precious One
(Prodigy)." The former starts off with Thomas' steady bass mantra,
and then transitions into a more layered, beat-driven performance of
the composition. The album closes with the Blade composition "Omni,"
which features Walden's soaring alto.
Season of Changes is the group's first album in eight years, following
1998's Daniel Lanois-produced Brian Blade Fellowship and 2000's
Perceptual, which Blade and Cowherd co-produced.
The Louisiana-bred Blade's remarkable percussive sensitivity and
versatility were nurtured in his hometown of Shreveport and later in
New Orleans under the tutelage of such mentors as John Mahoney, Steve
Masakowski, Bill Huntington, George French, Ellis Marsalis and
drumming masters John Vidacovich and David Lee, Jr. In recent years,
he's balanced his Fellowship activities with his parallel career as
one of today's most in-demand drummers, with a resume that includes
recording and/or live work with a broad range of musical artists that
includes Daniel Lanois, Bob Dylan, Bill Frisell, Kenny Garrett,
Emmylou Harris, Joni Mitchell, Joshua Redman, Seal and Wayne Shorter.
Despite his and his cohorts' prestigious individual resumes, Blade
emphasizes the Fellowship Band's collaborative focus. "I feel less
like a leader than I feel like I'm trying to be part of an enduring
collective statement," he states. "It's always a learning experience
to take the trip and see what happens when we mix and mingle as a
band. Everybody gives everything to it, and it's always a joyful
experience, even when the music is melancholy."
"When I'm writing for the Fellowship," Blade explains, "Myron and
Melvin and Chris and Jon and Kurt are always in my mind and I'm
writing for their voices. The music on paper sits dormant, until I
bring it to them and they inject it with their energy. That's when it
becomes real. It's the same with Jon's writing; it always inspires me
to hear what he's working on, because he has a real talent for
bringing out the gifts of the group."
The musicians' individual talents and organic rapport make Season of
Changes a memorable evocation of Brian Blade and the Fellowship Band's
singular brilliance. "I feel really blessed to be a part of this
group," Blade asserts, "and to know these people and to feel such
dedication and emotional investment in being a part of this band.
It's not something that you can put on paper; it's a chemical reaction
that comes from people having a connection, and in our case it keeps
growing. Even if we have a lot of time away from each other, the
thread is held, and it's still there when we come back to it. It
really feels like coming home to my family."
Brian Blade and the Fellowship Band: Season of Changes (Verve)
B0010696, available May 6, 2008.
##
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