Bentley's Bandstand
Nothing is better than an album that is a total surprise. It doesn’t happen nearly often enough, when an artist whose work is known floats in something from out in the bleachers to wake up the ears. Brian Blade is one of the finest drummers alive. He plays with Wayne Shorter and a handful of other major musicians, as well as being an integral part of Daniel Lanois’ talented pool of players. On Mama Rosa, though, it’s time for something completely different. Blade writes songs of strong faith, creating a feeling of inspiration and, yes, devotion. Some of this may be absorbed from his father’s preaching in Shreveport. And other parts no doubt comes from Blade’s own search for truth. And his vocals are subtle but sublime, capturing a quiet strength that true believers have a way of find above all others. In a million years, listeners probably wouldn’t have guess the drummer would have this album in him, and thank goodness we’d all be wrong. Supplying strong guitar sonics throughout many of these songs, Daniel Lanois is Blade’s trusty sidekick, guiding the sound into offbeat areas and always erring on the side of soul. These two together have an unspoken bond, and by now can go directly to the deepest parts of their musical sensibilities without even thinking. There is no easy definition of what this music is, and there doesn’t need to be. Categories are what helped kill innovation anyway, and the trick to finding new grooves is to forget labels and instead find the path to glory. Brian Blade has an inner compass that can lead us exactly where we need to be. Just listen.
