Terence Blanchard Quintet

Despite more than 29 albums and multiple Grammy Awards and nominations to his credit, jazz trumpeter Terence Blanchard is perhaps even more widely recognized for his work as a film composer. Director Spike Lee first took note of his performances on the scores for "Do the Right Thing" and "Mo’ Better Blues" and subsequently hired Blanchard to compose the score for each of his films since 1991, including "Jungle Fever," "Malcolm X," "Clockers," "Summer of Sam," and "Inside Man." The New Orleans native also composed the score for Lee’s HBO Documentary, "When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts," about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. In addition to his film work, the trumpeter and bandleader has maintained a long and successful career as a live performer. When Wynton Marsalis left Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers in 1982, Blanchard succeeded him and stayed with the band until 1986. At Birdland Blanchard will be premiering new music from his yet untitled new CD release for Blue Note/EMI Records.