Composer and trumpeter Terence Blanchard said that "Music and art have the power to change hearts and souls.” It is a belief brought to life through the work of Blanchard and his E-Collective, a revolutionary ensemble that thrives off of the perfect mixture of Blanchard’s genius and the innovations of four young musical pioneers: guitarist Charles Altura, pianist Fabian Almazan, bassist David “DJ” Ginyard, Jr., and drummer Oscar Seaton. "This band represents the best of America's ideals. We're five very different personalities with different visions who play together for a common goal: creating music that hopefully heals hearts and opens minds.”
Blanchard was overwhelmed by the healing impact of his music on the audience during a poignant E-Collective performance in Staten Island this past August. In attendance were many friends and family of Eric Garner — a local man who had been fatally injured in an altercation with police and to whom the E-Collective’s debut album, Breathless (2015), is dedicated. Motivated by this experience, the E-Collective’s next album, tentatively titled, Caravan, will be recorded live in cities around the country that have been similarly impaired by racial tension. The recordings began on January 2-3 in St. Paul, MN at the Dakota Jazz Club;and continue on January 4-5 in Cleveland, OH at BopStop; January 7th in Dallas, TX at The Wyley Theatre.
The recordings end on January 8th in New York at Ginny's Supper Club at The Red Rooster. Set times are 7:00pm & 9:30pm. For a complimentary ticket to either set, please contact Brian Reid at b.reid@imnworld.com to make a reservation as space is limited.
As a five-time Grammy-winning composer and musician, Terence Blanchard extends a jazz tradition that embodies the work of Louis Armstrong and is grounded in their shared hometown of New Orleans. The Wall Street Journal said, "Blanchard's sound is advantageous without losing its grip on creativity." As a performer and composer, Blanchard's individuality can be heard in director Spike Lee’s films; Emmy winner Anthony Hemingway’s Red Tails; his opera “Champion"; an upcoming FOX drama; a dance collaboration with Desmond Richardson’s Complexions; two commissions for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic; and two Broadway plays. Blanchard has defined his place in contemporary culture that extends well beyond jazz’s reach.
