The Canadian Press - This photo provided by Terence Blanchard shows the cover of the CD "Breathless," by Blanchard. (Henry Adebonojo/Terence Blanchard via AP)
The Canadian PressBy Charles J. Gans, The Associated Press | The Canadian Press – Tue, 2 Jun, 2015
Terence Blanchard, "Breathless" (Blue Note)
Grammy-winning jazz trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard makes a powerful political and musical statement with his new E-Collective quintet on "Breathless," his first plunge as a bandleader into groove-based electric fusion music drawing on funk, R&B and the blues.
The title track, inspired by the last words ("I can't breathe") of Eric Garner, who died in a New York police officer's chokehold, is a moving father-and-son dialogue featuring Blanchard's muted crying trumpet and son JRei Oliver's spoken-word reflection on the effects of racism.
Blanchard opens the album with a funked-up version of the still relevant civil rights and Vietnam war protest song "Compared to What," a 1969 hit recording for Les McCann. Blanchard's fiery trumpet solos drive soulful vocals by Maroon 5's PJ Morton.
On "Talk to Me," a funky groove underscores activist Cornel West's commentary on Martin Luther King Jr.'s prediction that America would remain haunted by racism, militarism and wealth inequality.
Blanchard puts aside his social engagement on other tracks, including the meditative, dream-like "Samadhi" with Oliver reciting a soft-spoken poem about finding inner peace, and the hard-driving "Cosmic Warrior" with some powerful rock riffing.
read more: https://ca.news.yahoo.com/trumpeter-terence-blanchard-makes-powerful-musical-political-statement-125836259.html
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