Jazz Articles about Wil Blades

About Wil Blades

Album Review

Jacques Lesure: Jacques Lesure Live At Lavender Blue

Read "Jacques Lesure Live At Lavender Blue" reviewed by Jacob Sylvester

by Jacob Sylvester
July 23, 2026

The release of Jacques Lesure Live At Lavender Blue CD stands as a vibrant testament to the artistry of jazz guitarist Jacques Lesure. This live recording captures the magic of his performances, showcasing his ability to lead an ensemble with both precision and soul. The album is a collection of ten tracks that highlight Lesure's technical skill and his deep connection to the jazz tradition. Throughout the project, he is joined by a stellar cast of musicians who bring their ...

Album Review

Wil Blades: Field Notes

Read "Field Notes" reviewed by Chris M. Slawecki

by Chris M. Slawecki
December 11, 2014

It's good to know that no matter how many things change around us, there's still nothing that kicks out the jams like a good old school B-3 organ, guitar and drum trio. Wil Blades provides an excellent case study in groove. Throughout the past fifteen years, this B-3 bombardier has worked with blues and jazz greats both old school and new, such as Joe Louis Walker, Idris Muhammad, Melvin Sparks, Karl Denson, Billy Martin (Medeski Martin & Wood), ...

Interview

Wil Blades: Groooooovin'

by R.J. DeLuke
September 17, 2014

"I love the blues," says Wil Blades, a Hammond B3 whiz who didn't come to the instrument until he left his hometown of Chicago and was going to college in California. He doesn't remember specific instances of being struck by a blues thunderbolt, but “I remember hearing it. It's part of the feeling I get when I play music." He started on drums at a young age and turned to guitar as a teenager--"I had those rock star ...

Album Review

Wil Blades: Field Notes

Read "Field Notes" reviewed by Doug Collette

by Doug Collette
August 18, 2014

Keyboardist Wil Blades earned his pedigree playing with guitarist Will Bernard and percussionist Billy Martin and now ratchets up his leadership skills fronting a trio including guitarist Jeff Parker and drummer Simon Lott. Concentrating on Hammond B3 organ (using clavinet to leaven the textured sound of the group), Blades proves he has absorbed the lessons from masters of the hallowed instrument such as Jimmy Smith and happily carries them into the future. He the alternately fluid but funky ...