Brian Blade burst on the scene in the early 90s and has since distinguished himself as one of the all time greats.

Brian met with Joe in Chicago to discuss: his musical beginnings in church; how he developed his gifts as an artist; what he learned from his older brother, drummer Brady Blade; working with iconoclasts ranging from Joni Mitchell to Wayne Shorter; being “in the moment, almost to a fault”; reuniting with his childhood sweetheart after nearly 30 years apart; and how within any one thing, everything else exists.

Musical mythology is rife with stories of troubled genius. As an antidote, here’s a conversation with a thoroughly joyful genius.