Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band

From about age nine to age thirteen, Brian Blade played violin in the school orchestra and continued to play until following in the footsteps of his older brother, Brady l. Blade, Jr. who played the drums in the Zion church. During high school, both Brady, Jr. and Brian were students of Dorsey Summerfield, Jr. and performed as part of his professional group called “the Polyphonics”. During this time and through his experience with Mr. Summerfield, Brian began listening to the music of John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Art Blakey, Thelonious Monk, Elvin Jones, and Joni Mitchell. In 1988, Brian moved to New Orleans to attend Loyola University. It was at this time that Brian met Jon Cowherd and the roots of the Fellowship Band began. Both Brian and Jon were able to study and play w…