Wil Blades’ 40th Birthday Party
Category: Event Calendar
Date and Time for this Past Event
- Monday, Aug 26, 2019 7 PM
Location
Kuumbwa Jazz Center
320 Cedar St
Details
Wil Blades represents a generational step forward in the lineage of the Hammond B-3 organ and Hammond ace Dr. Lonnie Smith calls him, “the future of the B-3.” Blades has performed with Nicholas Payton, Stanton Moore, and Charlie Hunter, among other major artists. For his 40th birthday celebration, Blades will be joined by an all-star band of saxophonist Donald Harrison Jr., guitarist Jeff Parker, and drummers Scott Amendola and Mike Clark. Field Notes is his latest recording.
Cutting his teeth in the Bay Area, Blades came up working with a number of respected artists such as Eddie Marshall, Hunter, Idris Muhammad, Moore, Billy Martin, and many others. But perhaps the most important connection he made was with venerated jazz organ legend Smith, who became his mentor and with whom he toured.
Performing with Blades on this concert date is saxophone great Harrison, who grew up in New Orleans and has worked with Roy Haynes, Jack McDuff, and Art Blakey. Parker, based out of Los Angeles, is a long-time member of Tortoise and the AACM. He has also worked with Brian Blade, Joey DeFrancesco, and Joshua Redman. ensemble is powered by drummers Clark and Amendola. Clark is known for his innovative funk drumming with Herbie Hancock's Headhunters in the mid-’70s. Amendola has performed with Blades for many years, but first gained attention as a member of the Charlie Hunter Trio.
