USA: JAZZ TRUMPETER TERENCE BLANCHARD TALKS ABOUT HIS NEW ALBUM AND COMPOSING FOR NEW SPIKE LEE FILM

Record ID: 388960

  • Title: USA: JAZZ TRUMPETER TERENCE BLANCHARD TALKS ABOUT HIS NEW ALBUM AND COMPOSING FOR NEW SPIKE LEE FILM
  • Date: 6th March 2000
  • Summary: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, UNITED STATES - FILE REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE WITH TOURISTS AND GUIDE RIDING THROUGH THE FRENCH QUARTER REVELERS ON BALCONY IN THE FRENCH QUARTER WAVING TO OTHERS ENJOYING A NIGHT ON BOURBON STREET
  • Embargoed: 21st March 2000 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES/ VARIOUS LOCATIONS
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA5REI44MD17H57AS06B6GM7Y8I
  • Story Text: Jazz trumpeter Terence Blanchard's new album of original compositions, "Wandering Moon", was inspired by an intense touring schedule and long stretches in the studio away from family and friends in New Orleans.The famed band leader and film composer spoke to Reuters about his new music and other projects, including initial work on the upcoming Spike Lee file "Love and Basketball".
    Versatile trumpeter Terence Blanchard has worked with a wide array of producers and famous musicians, including four years perfecting his craft with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers.
    His simple joy of playing the trumpet has blossomed into a multi-faceted career that includes scoring music for top Hollywood films, composing, and guest recording appearances with his peers in the jazz community.
    He is currently working on the score to "Love and Basketball", the upcoming Spike Lee-produced film recently screened at the Sundance Film Festival.Lee has also tapped Blanchard to score "Bamboozled", his next directorial project.
    Fans have quitely anticipated a new album of original compositions that showcase Blanchard's trademark love of melody shaped from personal experiences, rather than from a film or the vision of a director.
    For his part, Terence loves the challenge of composing his own music while keeping such a demanding schedule, but admits it's a lot harder than working for someone else.
    "When you're working on a film, the film is your guide.
    You get the direction from the director and you try to figure out what it is they're looking for," he explains.
    "But when you're working on your own project there's so many directions you can go into, and trying to really work through specific ideas can take some time."
    As all great jazz musicians have done before him, Blanchard spent long hours with his instrument, exploring other forms of music with his previous albums including "The Billie Holiday Songbook", the Latin-tinged "The Heart Speaks", and last year's critically acclaimed "Jazz in Film".
    Though this is not his first CD of original compositions, he describes the immersion in music and long hours with his horn as vital to perfecting and expressing his own thoughts.
    "It's an eye-opening experience to perform your music on the same show as you perform the music or the compositions of great composers like Duke Ellington or Wayne Shorter or Thelonious Monk.You know, you hear yourself back to back and you go wow, there's a lot to be desired here, a lot of homework needed to be done," he laughed."So, those things really helped me develop a better understanding of just writing melodies, dealing with themes and I knew it was time to do this record."
    "Wandering Moon" is his first original recording in five years, with guest spots by Branford Marsalis and Dave Holland complimenting his regular touring band.
    Among Blanchard's numerous honors are the Grand Prix du Disque award (for his album "New York Second Line"), a Grammy nomination (Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Group, for Spike Lee's "Mo Better Blues"), an Emmy Award nomination (Best Original Score, "The Promised Land"), and another Grammy nomination (Best Latin Performance, "The Heart Speaks").His performance on 1995's "Color and Light: Jazz Sketches On Sondheim" received rave reviews and TIME Magazine subsequently ranked the album number five on its list of the year's best music.
    Accolades aside, Blanchard prefers to concentrate on the difficult task of balancing his career as a journeyman jazz musician with his love of family, music and jamming with fellow New Orleans jazzmen.
    Jam sessions with friends include the likes of the Marsalis brothers and trumpeter Nicholas Payton, and remind him that he is part of the rich tradition of trumpet players hailing from the city known worldwide as the "Birthplace of Jazz".
    "The more I learned about the history of music, especially in New Orleans, I started to realize well wow, there's some great musicians who've come from this city that's played this instrument, so you do feel like you're part of a family."
    Taking that tradition on the road is de rigeur for Blanchard, but he still misses being at home with his real family of four plus wife and manager Robin.
    "I remember I was in Spain on tour and I was missing my family and I took a walk and when I looked up in the sky I saw the moon and it's kinda corny I know, but the thing that made me feel closer to them was the fact that I knew that the moon was going to be over them in six or seven hours, hence the title of the record."
    Terence Blanchard is currently touring the United States in support of "Wandering Moon" and looks to possibly tour Europe in late summer.
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