Easily one of the most versatile and soulful musicians in jazz, Blade grew up as the son of a Baptist pastor in Shreveport, Louisiana and was immersed in gospel music from his birth, taking inspiration from his older brother Brady, an acclaimed drummer in his own right. At 18, he moved to New Orleans for studies at Loyola, and became fully integrated into the jazz scene there, studying and performing with Crescent City stars including Ellis Marsalis, Johnny Vidacovich and Harold Battiste. Blade formed the Fellowship in 1997 with pianist and fellow Loyola student Jon Cowherd, and with a largely stable lineup, they have released four increasingly accomplished sessions for Blue Note. As he was developing his own musical identity as a bandleader, he became an increasingly in-demand sideman and band member, cultivating long-term associations with Joshua Redman, Joni Mitchell, Kenny Garrett, Edward Simon, Daniel Lanois, and others. In 2000, Blade began his most visible and fruitful partnership as a member of jazz legend Wayne Shorter’s all-star quartet, touring the world and recording four albums with the saxophonist, including the Grammy-winning 2013 release, Without A Net.