Jazz and Blues Lounge

Raging at Katrina - Terence Blanchard’s New Album

by balaspa on August 28th, 2007

Terence Blanchard is a very talented man.  While I am a huge fan of the classic jazz scene, it is nice to know that there are some hugely talented people who still hold true to those classic sounds.  Wynton Marsalis is one.  A man named Terence Blanchard is another.

Terence was born in 1962 in New Orleans.  He is a man who plays the trumpet and, man, can he play.  When it comes to modern horn players, there are a select few I would consider lumping in with the classic horn players like Dizzy and Miles.  Terence would be one of those.

Terence was asked to score the documentary about the aftermath of Hurrican Katrina produced and directed by Spike Lee called “When the Levees Broke.”  It is a movie that will make you mad and it doesn’t matter what race or color you are.

That in turn inspired Terence to do an album and that album came out August 14.  It is a very, very powerful album from Blue Note records (www.bluenote.com).  The album is called “A Tale of God’s Will (A Reqiuem for Katrina).

The man manages to play his horn in such a way that you can palpably feel the anger, frustration and profound sadness of seeing the city where he was born and the state it is in currently.  It is a profound experience that shows you how even just music, when in the hands of a true talent, can evoke powerful emotions.  You don’t need lyrics to feel anger and empathy.

I downloaded the albume through iTunes myself and have been playing it almost non-stop as I write.  It is available at any music store as well as Blue Notes’ website and through Amazon.com. 

No matter what your political beliefs or you particular status as either a wealthy person, poor person, middle class, black or white, you should feel anger over the destruction of New Orleans.  One of America’s greatest cities is still in ruins and it’s been two years.  That is a sad thing.

For a perfect feeling of that anger, frustration and sadness, take a listen to Terence Blanchard’s new album “A Tale of God’s Will (A Reqiuem for Katrina).”  Not only is the music powerful and impressive, but the message is important too.

POSTED IN: Chicago, jazz, records