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Terence Blanchard Celebrates Louis Armstrong Day at the 2007 University of Michigan Jazz Fest
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 Listen to Part 1
Listen to Part 2
Thanks to the University of Michigan School of Music Martin Luther King / Cesar Chavez / Rosa Parks Visiting Professorship for funding for this edition.
On a cold February day in Ann Arbor, the 2007 University of Michigan Jazz Festival honored a brilliant beacon of music -- Louis Armstrong, known to players as "Pops." His biography is essentially the jazz creation story. Born into poverty in New Orleans in 1901, half a century before the Supreme Court ended legal racial discrimination in public schools and 60 years before the Voting Rights Act, this African-American artist invented a high-power trumpet sound and glorious improvisations and arrangements to go with it. He steered American culture in new directions. His career was lifelong, and his following was international.
Sixty years after Pops, Terence Blanchard was born, also in New Orleans -- where it means something to take up the trumpet. And that's just what young Terence did. However, Miles Davis was more Blanchard’s idol than Pops was. Today, Blanchard has a three-part career. His two recent CDs from Blue Note -- Bounce and Flow -- display his flexible trumpet sound, subtle compositions and ever more youthful band. He has scored more than 35 feature films, including a dozen Spike Lee movies. Finally, Blanchard is the artistic director of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz. In fall 2007, he's bringing this elite, college-level training program home from southern California to Loyola University in New Orleans.
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At a public "historical lecture" at the University of Michigan Jazz Festival, Blanchard reflected on Armstrong's breakthrough career, especially his ability to turn popular songs into something familiar but original. Later, in a master class, Blanchard answered students' questions about film scoring. And then, into the night, he and his telepathic quintet headlined the feature concert.
Opening for Blanchard, the University of Michigan Jazz Ensemble played swing, Celtic music and a dash of mambo, with Professor Ellen Rowe conducting.
Thanks to our host, Festival Executive Director and Professor Dennis Wilson, and Jazz and Improvisation Chairman Ed Sarath.
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MUSIC & PERSONNEL
Terence Blanchard Quintet
Terence Blanchard, trumpet
Brice Winston, tenor
Fabian Almazan, piano
Derrick Hodge, bass
Kendrick Scott, drums
"Transform" (Eric Harland)
"Harvesting Dance" (Aaron Parks)
Excerpt of "Nocturna" (Ivan Lins)
University of Michigan Jazz Ensemble, conducted by Professor Ellen Rowe
"Deed I Do" (Rose/Hersch, arr. John Clayton)
"May Morning Dew" (trad. Irish, arr. Tyler Duncan)
"Cubauza" (Michael Philip Mossman)
Saxophones
Dan Schlein - Alto I
Joey Dosik - Alto II
Tucker Antell - Tenor I
Andy Haefner - Tenor II
Ivan Navedo - Baritone
Tyler Duncan - Low Whistle
Trumpets
Scott Copeland
Justin Walter
Ryan Black
Andy Warren
Josh Mizruchi
Trombones
Melissa Gardiner
Alex Truelove
Joey Munoz
Ilan Morgenstern - bass trombone
Rhythm Section
Matt Endalh / Michael Gacetta - piano
Tomek Miernowski / Derek Barber - guitar
Doug Stuart / Pat Prouty - bass
Quentin Joseph / Aaron Gold - drums
Theo Katzman - aux. percussion
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LINKS
University of Michigan School of Music
Terence Blanchard
Louis Armstrong's house- a must visit in Queens, NY!
NPR Jazz Profiles: Louis Armstrong
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CREDITS
David Lau of Brookwood Studio, assistant Rich Blatt. PA by Jim Gibbons.
Recording and remix by JazzSet's Duke Markos with Yujin Cha. Remix of University Jazz Ensemble by Dave Greenspan.
Producer Becca Pulliam, Executive Producer Thurston Briscoe III at WBGO Jazz 88 in Newark, NJ, and wbgo.org.
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Copyright 2007 NPR
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