 |
|
The UK's Biggest Selling Jazz Magazine 
|
| Terence Blanchard - Choices **** |
| Friday, 30 October 2009 10:57 | |||||||
|
Concord | Terence Blanchard (t), Walter Smith III (ts) Lionel Loueke (g) Fabian Almazan (p), Derrick Hodge (b), Kendrick Scott (d), Bilal(v) and Dr Cornel West (spoken word). Rec. 2009 A new chapter in Blanchard’s career begins with this album, his first for a new label. Part searing hard bop and ballads album, part lecture it contains, rather than snippets of spoken word elements or skits, mini-expositions instead; on intellectualism, the state of the nation and much more from leading scholar Dr Cornel West. While West shoots the breeze Blanchard and his band alternate between urban hard bop with a very up-to-the-moment feel and thoughtful ballads featuring singer Bilal, best known for his work with Blanchard’s friend Robert Glasper. While some listeners might be put off by Dr West’s theorising his presence is a lot more substantial than most spoken word collaborations tend to be. The album as a result is more of a statement and also quite radical in the sense that the social and political consciousness often paid lip service to by some musicians off the record is actually completely upfront in words and music. By recording in New Orleans and making his first album since Barack Obama became President of the USA, Blanchard has not shirked in his duty as a musician or as a citizen here. The album is also surprisingly tender and the ballads come off best. Loueke’s presence is also keenly felt and if anything he’s more impressive playing with Blanchard than he has shown so far on his own albums. Stephen Graham
Only registered users can write comments!
Powered by !JoomlaComment 3.26
3.26 Copyright (C) 2008 Compojoom.com / Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."
|
news
features
features
features
reviews
UK Jazz Venues
Pizza Express Jazz Club London (1871)
Vortex Jazz Club London (1664)
606 Club London (1609)
Ronnie Scotts London (1597)
Hideaway Streatham (350)
Swansea Jazzland Swansea (316)
Matt & Phred's Jazz Club Manchester (242)
Pizza on the Park London (237)
St Ives Jazz Club St Ives (219)
Wakefield Sports Club Wakefield (188)
Barbican Hall London (171)
Komedia Studio Bar Brighton (165)
Friends Life Social Club Dorking (151)
The Spin Oxford (125)
Seven Arts Leeds Leeds (115)
Octave Bar London (107)
Charlie Wright's London (105)
The Stables Theatre Wavendon (101)
Symphony Hall Foyer Birmingham (100)
The Sage Gateshead (95)
Cafe Oto London (93)
Purcell Room London (90)
Watermill Jazz Dorking (86)
Matt & Phred's Manchester (83)
The Dysart Arms Surrey (74)
The Oxford Pub London (74)
The Sands Venue Gainsborough (72)
The Bell Hotel Clare (67)
Cheltenham Town Hall Cheltenham (66)
Boisdale's Canary Wharf (64)
Millennium Hall Sheffield (62)
National Theatre Foyer South Bank SE1 (61)
The Forge London (55)
Band on the Wall Manchester (54)
The Jazz Bar Edinburgh (54)
Spice Of Life London (53)
Jagz Ascot (51)
Orange Street Music Club Canterbury (51)
Joogleberry Playhouse Brighton (50)
Turner Sims Hall Southampton (49)
The Beaver Inn Appledore (48)
Royal Festival Hall London (47)
Queen Elizabeth Hall (47)
Queen Elizabeth Hall London (46)
Lauderdale House Waterlow Park London (45)
Villandry Bar London (44)
Kings Place London (44)
Leeds College of Music Leeds (44)
Bonington Theatre Nottingham (44)
Jazz Café London (42)
Vortex Jazz Club London (1664)
606 Club London (1609)
Ronnie Scotts London (1597)
Hideaway Streatham (350)
Swansea Jazzland Swansea (316)
Matt & Phred's Jazz Club Manchester (242)
Pizza on the Park London (237)
St Ives Jazz Club St Ives (219)
Wakefield Sports Club Wakefield (188)
Barbican Hall London (171)
Komedia Studio Bar Brighton (165)
Friends Life Social Club Dorking (151)
The Spin Oxford (125)
Seven Arts Leeds Leeds (115)
Octave Bar London (107)
Charlie Wright's London (105)
The Stables Theatre Wavendon (101)
Symphony Hall Foyer Birmingham (100)
The Sage Gateshead (95)
Cafe Oto London (93)
Purcell Room London (90)
Watermill Jazz Dorking (86)
Matt & Phred's Manchester (83)
The Dysart Arms Surrey (74)
The Oxford Pub London (74)
The Sands Venue Gainsborough (72)
The Bell Hotel Clare (67)
Cheltenham Town Hall Cheltenham (66)
Boisdale's Canary Wharf (64)
Millennium Hall Sheffield (62)
National Theatre Foyer South Bank SE1 (61)
The Forge London (55)
Band on the Wall Manchester (54)
The Jazz Bar Edinburgh (54)
Spice Of Life London (53)
Jagz Ascot (51)
Orange Street Music Club Canterbury (51)
Joogleberry Playhouse Brighton (50)
Turner Sims Hall Southampton (49)
The Beaver Inn Appledore (48)
Royal Festival Hall London (47)
Queen Elizabeth Hall (47)
Queen Elizabeth Hall London (46)
Lauderdale House Waterlow Park London (45)
Villandry Bar London (44)
Kings Place London (44)
Leeds College of Music Leeds (44)
Bonington Theatre Nottingham (44)
Jazz Café London (42)
Jazzwise magazine - digital edition
Jazzwise Branded App
Live Twitter Feed
2012 Parliamentary Jazz Awards
WORK EXPERIENCE
Jazzwise Intern Opportunities
Jazzwise E-newsletter
instrument guide
recommended jazz gigs
See all the UK's hottest jazz gigs here
Abram Wilson, featuring Jason Marsalis and Myrna Hague A New Orleans Christmas Kings Place Friday 17th December 2011
Archie Shepp – Thursday 17 November, London Jazz Festival
Phronesis – Pitch Black – Weds 16 November
McCoy Tyner – Barbican Hall, Saturday 12 November
Magnus Ostrum Band – The Camp Basement, London, 17 November
Archie Shepp – Thursday 17 November, London Jazz Festival
Phronesis – Pitch Black – Weds 16 November
McCoy Tyner – Barbican Hall, Saturday 12 November
Magnus Ostrum Band – The Camp Basement, London, 17 November