One of the most esteemed and beloved drummers in jazz today, Blade joins with Rogerio Boccato on percussion, Jon Cowherd on piano, Monte Croft on vocals and vibes, John Hart on guitar, Myron Walden on woodwinds and Doug Weiss on bass to honor the music and the memory of vibes master Hutcherson, who died three years ago. Blade performed with Hutcherson as a founding member of the SFJAZZ Collective. Cowherd and Walden are both members of Blade’s longtime and sublime Fellowship Band. This is a new project; there’s not even an album yet. But there will be no shortage of the inspiration, elation, and spirituality that Blade always brings to his playing. –PAMELA ESPELAND
Wednesday, September 25th at 7pm + 9pm
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The always-prolific drummer and composer Brian Blade and his band Life Cycles have a new project. They’re paying tribute to the music of the late, great vibraphonist/composer Bobby Hutcherson. Formed in 2001, Life Cycles includes three members of Blade’s Fellowship Band. They have recorded several well-received albums of original compositions. For the Hutcherson project, Blade added percussionist Rogerio Boaccato. The other members of the combo include pianist Jon Cowherd, vocalist and vibraphonist Monte Croft, guitarist John Hart, saxophonist Myron Walden and bassist Doug Weiss. –DAN EMERSON
Brian Blade’s groovy, expressive playing has made him one of the most in-demand drummers of the past few decades, with credits including work with Wayne Shorter, Joni Mitchell, and Joshua Redman. As a leader, he’s best known for the Fellowship Band, whose quietly tricky repertoire often draws on folk, pop, and church forms. Life Cycles is devoted to the music of the late vibraphonist, marimba player, and composer Bobby Hutcherson, whose catalog includes the Blue Note landmark Dialogue. Monte Croft gets the vibes spotlight in Life Cycles, which also includes the Fellowship Band’s other principal writer and arranger, pianist Jon Cowherd. —DYLAN HICKS
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