Effortlessly blending influences from folk, rock, blues and ambient into his traditional jazz training, his compositions are delicate-yet-complex pieces that carry profound emotional depth. Together with pianist Jon Cowherd he co-founded the band Brian Blade Fellowship, while also playing with the Wayne Shorter Quartet as their long-time drummer. Besides that, Blade recorded with all-time greats like Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and Herbie Hancock, and pursued a successful second career as a singer-songwriter on acclaimed recordings like “Mama Rosa”, an album inspired by and written for his grandmother and extended family.