Terence Blanchard : NPR

Terence Blanchard is the guest on this week's Piano Jazz. Henry Adebonojo/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Henry Adebonojo/Courtesy of the artist

Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz

Terence Blanchard On Piano Jazz

May 26, 2017 • The Grammy award-winning trumpeter and composer joins Marian McPartland to perform standards like "I Thought About You" with bassist Gary Mazzaroppi.

Terence Blanchard On Piano Jazz

57:46

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In Pursuit Of A More Diverse Night At The Opera

Aubrey Allicock (right) portrays boxing champ Emile Griffith in his prime, along with Andrew McLaughlin, in Terence Blanchard's Champion, at Washington National Opera. Scott Suchman/Washington National Opera hide caption

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Scott Suchman/Washington National Opera

Review

Deceptive Cadence

In Pursuit Of A More Diverse Night At The Opera

March 6, 2017 • How do you attract a more diverse audience at the opera? One answer is to produce operas with characters that look more like the general citizenry.

Terence Blanchard Feat. The E-Collective: Tiny Desk Concert

Tiny Desk Concert with Terence Blanchard. Lani Milton/NPR hide caption

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Lani Milton/NPR

Tiny Desk

Terence Blanchard Feat. The E-Collective: Tiny Desk Concert

August 5, 2015 • The New Orleans trumpeter wasn't thinking about Eric Garner, Michael Brown or #blacklivesmatter when he first assembled this funky new band. But then it became a way to ward off despair.

Terence Blanchard Feat. The E-Collective: Tiny Desk Concert

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'Miles Davis And Gil Evans: Still Ahead' On JazzSet

Terence Blanchard plays the role of Miles Davis' trumpet with commitment and emotion at Monterey. Cole Thompson hide caption

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Cole Thompson

JazzSet with Dee Dee Bridgewater

'Miles Davis And Gil Evans: Still Ahead' On JazzSet

WBGO

August 28, 2014 • In three collaborations in the late 1950s, Gil Evans and Miles Davis steered their projects into a new era for jazz. Terence Blanchard plays Davis' role with commitment and emotion in this set.

Wayne Shorter. Robert Ashcroft/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Robert Ashcroft/Courtesy of the artist

Best Music Of 2013

The 2013 NPR Music Jazz Critics Poll

December 18, 2013 • We asked 137 jazz journalists to pick their favorite albums that came out this year. Out of over 700 nominees, here are their collective top 50 picks, along with top finishers in the Latin jazz, vocal, debut and reissue categories.

Terence Blanchard Quintet, Live In Concert

The Terence Blanchard Quintet performs at the 2013 Newport Jazz Festival. Adam Kissick for NPR hide caption

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Adam Kissick for NPR

Newport Jazz Festival

Terence Blanchard Quintet, Live In Concert

WBGO

August 4, 2013 • As a whole, the trumpeter's high-functioning band reliably serves up modernism as post-bop jazz. It welcomes a guest turn from guitarist Lionel Loueke, making this band a rare six-man quintet.

Terence Blanchard Quintet At Newport

56:35

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Terence Blanchard Turns A Tragic Champion Into An Opera Hero

Terence Blanchard is one of today's foremost jazz composers. Nitin Vadukul/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Nitin Vadukul/Courtesy of the artist

Music Interviews

Terence Blanchard Turns A Tragic Champion Into An Opera Hero

June 15, 2013 • The jazz composer's latest project is an opera based on the life of Emile Griffith, a gay boxer who became a world champion in the 1960s — at a price.

Terence Blanchard Turns A Tragic Champion Into An Opera Hero

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Music Interviews

Terence Blanchard Considers Life's 'Choices'

October 21, 2009 • The New Orleans trumpeter's newest CD, Choices, delves into choices we make as individuals and as a society. He returned to his hometown to record the project, and continues to ask questions about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Terence Blanchard Considers Life's 'Choices'

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Terence Blanchard: Free Will And 'Choices'

Jazz trumpeter Terence Blanchard is a throwback to the socially engaged jazzman of the 1960s. Jenny Bagert hide caption

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Jenny Bagert

Review

Music Reviews

Terence Blanchard: Free Will And 'Choices'

August 24, 2009 • Jazz trumpeter Terence Blanchard is a throwback to the socially engaged jazzman of the 1960s: He's as wrapped up in politics and society as he is in scales and improvisation. His new album, Choices, ponders questions about free will and personal responsibility.

Terence Blanchard: Free Will And 'Choices'

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Terence Blanchard Group: Live In New Orleans

David Tallacksen

Concerts

Terence Blanchard Group: Live In New Orleans

WBGO

July 29, 2009 • The trumpeter, film composer and Crescent City resident returned to his hometown for the live concert premiere of music from his forthcoming album, Choices. He was joined by his quintet and a special guest, soul singer Bilal.

Listen Now: Terence Blanchard Quintet In Concert

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Terence Blanchard Quintet: Live At The Village Vanguard

Terence Blanchard. John Rogers for NPR/johnrogersnyc.com hide caption

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John Rogers for NPR/johnrogersnyc.com

Live At The Village Vanguard

Terence Blanchard Quintet: Live At The Village Vanguard

WBGO

February 18, 2009 • The New Orleans trumpeter is known as a film composer for Spike Lee, and as a standard-bearer of modern jazz innovation. He brings his quintet into lower Manhattan.

Terence Blanchard Quintet in Concert at the Village Vanguard - 02/18/2009

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Music Interviews

Terence Blanchard on Scoring Spike Lee Joints

February 15, 2008 • Terence Blanchard, an internationally renowned jazz trumpeter, has composed music for all of director Spike Lee's films — from Malcolm X to Inside Man. He talks to Farai Chideya about the relationship between music and the movies.

Terence Blanchard on Scoring Spike Lee Joints

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Music Interviews

Terence Blanchard: Musical Musings on 'God's Will'

Fresh Air

October 25, 2007 • The latest CD from New Orleans trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard is A Tale of God's Will, whose subtitle is "A Requiem for Katrina." Parts of the recording were heard in Spike Lee's HBO documentary When the Levees Broke.

Terence Blanchard: Musical Musings on 'God's Will'

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Concerts

Monk Institute of Jazz 20th Anniversary Concert

WBGO

October 4, 2007 • Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Joshua Redman, Patti Austin and Stevie Wonder celebrate the Institute that offers young musicians college-level training from the masters. The namesake — Thelonious Monk — was born October 10, 1917, and would be 90 this fall. Hear the concert.

Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz 20th Anniversary Concert on JazzSet

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Monterey Jazz Festival

Next Generation Jazz Orchestra in Concert

WBGO

September 23, 2007 • Players from 17 high schools were chosen for the Monterey Next Generation Jazz Orchestra. After studying to perform some of the most challenging big-band music available, the high-school all-stars perform alongside Terence Blanchard at the Monterey Jazz Festival.