mr. Brian Blade

Mr. Brian Blade. I first saw him play at a free in store at Amoeba Records in Hollywood with Daniel Lanois. Lanois called him up from the crowd to play a few songs with him and immediately all eyes were fixed on him - he's a total feel player, emotes with his face like it's some exhaust valve where the vibes exit into the ether. He moves around too, almost convulses on the down beat, eyes squinting hard, intent on something that's grabbed him. Like watching Derek Accorah on Most Haunted channel a spirit. Besides Lanois, Blade's played with Dylan (Time Out of Mind), Joni Mitchell, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock and Joshua Redman. If you ever have the chance to see this guy play, GO.