Donate | NPR Shop | NPR Community | Login | Register
August 9, 2009One of the drawbacks to being one of the world's best (and most versatile) drummers is that you stay incredibly busy. Too busy, sometimes, to focus on creating your own projects rather than servicing those of others. Luckily, the spotlight has returned in recent years to Brian Blade, who has released his first album as a guitar-playing singer-songwriter (this year's spiritually-tinged Mama Rosa) and has been touring with his beloved, long-standing Fellowship Band.
The Fellowship revolves around the writing of Blade and keyboardist Jon Cowherd, whose concepts tends toward the pastoral, elegant and cathartic. Colors float in and out of focus; Blade and Cowherd score sounds like pedal steel guitar, harmonium and bass clarinet. In 2008, the sextet released its third album, Season of Changes; material from that recording will likely be featured in the group's Sunday afternoon set.
Set List
"Hymn (I love the Lord)"
"Migration"
"Alpha and Omega"
"Season of Changes"
"Let Your Light Shine"
Personnel
Brian Blade, drummer
Jon Cowherd, pianist
Chris Thomas, bass
Myron Walden, alto
Melvin Butler, tenor/soprano sax
WGBH Boston serves the wide-ranging interests of its on-air and online music audience with a menu of classical, jazz, blues, folk, and documentary features.
Comments
Please note that all comments must adhere to the NPR.org discussion rules and terms of use. See also the Community FAQ.
NPR reserves the right to read on the air and/or publish on its Web site or in any medium now known or unknown the e-mails and letters that we receive. We may edit them for clarity or brevity and identify authors by name and location. For additional information, please consult our Terms of Use.