Bounce
For much of the twenty years he's been on the scene, trumpeter, film  composer, and educator Terence Blanchard has been unfairly compared toWynton Marsalis. But this time around, Blanchard delivers his turbo-charged, neo-bop to a new crew of young turks. His band includes the new-thing drummer Eric Harland, tenor saxman Bruce Winston, and West African guitarist Lionel Loueke. The music on this CD is far more open than Marsalis's, as evidenced by Blanchard's beautiful rendering of Ivan Lins' bossa nova "Nocturna," and a hip-hop friendly take onWayne Shorter's "Footprints." Blanchard also revives a couple of tunes from his previous recordings. Throughout, Terence Blanchard's tone is strong and true, in its own sweet and swinging way.--Eugene Holley, Jr.