The Kentucky-raised, New Orleans-schooled, New York-based Jon Cowherd is best known for his long- running partnership with drummer/bandleader Brian Blade, with whom he co-founded the Grammy-nominated Brian Blade and the Fellowship Band. When not recording and touring with the Fellowship, Cowherd has worked extensively with a broad array of artists including Joni Mitchell, Norah Jones, Brandi Carlile, KD Lang, Rosanne Cash, Iggy Pop, Glen Hansard, Cassandra Wilson, John Scofield and Lizz Wright. Tonight he presents the current “Gateway” iteration of his 10-year running ensemble as a bandleader, Mercy Project.

A native of Shreveport, Louisiana, Brian Blade established himself as a versatile, accomplished drummer early in his career, appearing on albums by the likes of Joshua Redman, Kenny Garrett, and Bob Dylan. Blade released his first album, Brian Blade Fellowship, at the age of 27 in 1998 and followed two years later with Perceptual, both on Blue Note. Always an in-demand sideman and collaborator, Blade continued to find work with a varied bevy of artists, including Joni Mitchell, Bill Frisell, and Wayne Shorter. Ten years after releasing his first album as the Brian Blade Fellowship, Blade returned with Season of Changes in 2008, this time on Verve. A year later he released the solo Americana, singer/songwriter effort Mama Rosa for the label.

New York-based jazz musician Tony Scherr plays acoustic and electric bass and guitar in a variety of (often downtown) line-ups. He played with Woody Herman while a teenager, and later performed in Russ Gershon’s Either/Orchestra and John Lurie’s Lounge Lizards. Scherr has toured the U.S., Japan and Europe, and now has a recording studio based out of his home.