Features Blanchard on trumpet, Bruce Barth on piano, Chris Thomas on bass, Troy Davis on drums, and Jeanie Bryson on vocals. Tracks include "Detour Ahead", "In My Solitude", "I Cried For You", "Don't Explain", "Strange Fruit", "Lady Sings The Blues", and "What A Little Moonlight Can Do". CD

Titles include "Doctor Drums", "Isn't It So", "Subterfuge", "New York Second Line", and "Duck Steps". With Blanchard on trumpet, Harrison on alto, Mulgrew Miller on piano, Lonnie Plaxico on bass, and Marvin Smitty Smith on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

Donald Harrison on alto and soprano saxophone, Terence Blanchard on trumpet, Cyrus Chestnut on piano, Reginald Veal on bass, and Carl Allen on drums. CD

Absence is a word that can instantly have a sense of sadness, but it can also have a sort of beauty, too – and that's definitely the case in this album of work done as a tribute to the great Wayne Shorter by trumpeter Terence Blanchard! The record's way more than just a collection of Shorter's tunes – and although it features a few numbers penned by the saxophonist, there's also a set of new music by Blanchard and his piansist too – really lovely numbers that have the trumpeter at his most evocative – in maybe a condensed expression of some of the modes he brings to his larger soundtrack material. The core group is his E-Collective – with Fabian Almazan on piano, Charles Altura on guitar, David Ginyard on bass, and Oscar Seaton on drums – but maybe the most interesting aspect of the record is the gentle use of the Turtle Island String Quartet, who shade in Blanchard's deeper ideas in a nicely subtle way. Titles include "I Dare You", "Envisioned Reflections", "When It Was Now", "Diana", "The Elders", "Dark Horse", "The Second Wave", and "Fall". CD

Features Terence Blanchard on trumpet, Brice Winston on tenor and soprano saxes, Aaron Parks on piano, Derrick Hodge on electric and acoustic bass, Kendrick Scott on drums and percussion, and Zach Harmon on tabla. CD

Terence Blanchard on trumpet, Branford Marsalis and Sam Newsome on tenor saxophone, Bruce Barth on piano, Rodney Whitaker on double bass, and Jeff Watts and Troy Davis on drums. CD

Core grooves from trumpeter Terence Blanchard and combo – but mixed with some compelling words from Cornel West and Bilal! The record's a jazz album at its core, but the presence of West and Bilal makes for a bit of a change, too – kind of an added level of consciousness on top of Blanchard's always-thoughtful music – but never in a way that's too heavy-handed. Other players include Walter Smith III on saxes, Lionel Loueke on guitar, and Fabian Almazan on piano – and a number of tracks are straight instrumentals, without any vocals. Titles include "Journey", "Winding Roads", "Choices", "D's Choice", "Him Or Me", and "A New World". CD

With Harrison on alto, Blanchard on trumpet, and Mulgrew Miller on piano. LP, Vinyl record album

A real standout from trumpeter Terence Blanchard – and a record that arguably helped set the tone for lots of Blue Note albums in years to come by a variety of younger artists! The album's produced by Herbie Hancock – who still really lets Blanchard's horn and musical vision take the lead, but also receive a bit more careful, creative treatment in the overall approach to the record – especially that great talent for blending styles and influences that Herbie's had in his own music for most of his career! In addition to soulful lead lines from Terence, the set also features work Lionel Loueke on guitar, Aaron Parks on keyboards, Bruce Winston on tenor and soprano, Derrick Hodge on bass, and Kendrick Scott on drums – and Herbie Hancock and singer Gretchen Parlatto each guest on a tune. Titles include "Wandering Wonder", "Harvesting Dance", "Over There", "Child's Play", "The Source", "Benny's Tune", and "Wadagbe". CD

Terence Blanchard on trumpet, Edward Simon and Ivan Lins on piano, Oscar Castro-Neves on guitar, David Bohanovich and Fred Zlotkin on cello, David Pulphus on bass, Troy Davis on drums, and Paulinho Da Costa on percussion. CD

With Kenny Garrett on tenor saxophone, Edward Simon on piano, Chris Thomas on bass, Troy Davis on drums. CD

With Kenny Garrett on tenor saxophone, Edward Simon on piano, Chris Thomas on bass, Troy Davis on drums. CD

Features Branford Marsalis on tenor and Dave Holland on bass. CD

A key recording from one of our favorite tenor talents of the 80s – the amazing Ralph Moore, a player who really carries on a strong legacy from the 60s work of Hank Mobley! Like Mobley, Moore's got a very rich-voiced sound that's steeped in tradition, but which is also never afraid to take chances too – a way of handling the tenor that few of his contemporaries could match, which is probably why Ralph's presence really upped the ante on so many dates at the time as a sideman. He's even better as a leader, though, and this standout set for Landmark is a real gem – a record filled with freely creative energy throughout, and a never-ending sense of soul – as Moore's tenor is set up nicely in a core group with Benny Green on piano, Peter Washington on bass, and Kenny Washington on drums – the latter of whom brings some of the same magic to this set that Billy Higgins did to Blue Note in the 60s. Terence Blanchard plays trumpet on 4 of the album's tracks – and titles include "Punjab", "Freeway", "Enigma", "Blues For John", "One Second Please", and "Episode From A Village Dance". Also includes the CD-only bonus track "Morning Star". CD

A great later jazz set from Toots Thielemans – recorded half in New York and half in LA – as you might guess from the title! The sound is still very much Toots' own, though – no easy nods to styles from either city in earlier years – and despite the fact that the record is on the Private Music label, which could sometimes put out snoozy new age, it's definitely a jazz date through and through – with relatively stripped down small combo instrumentation on all numbers. Players include John Scofield on guitar, Christian Mc Bride and Charlie Haden on bass, Mike Maineri on vibes, Terence Blanchard on trumpet, Lyle Mays on piano, and Peter Erskine on drums – and tracks include "In Walked Bud", "Con Alma", "Groovin High", "In Your Own Sweet Way", "Giant Steps", "Waltz For Debby", "A Child Is Born", and "Take Five". CD

Featuring selections by Harry Connick Jr and Branford Marsalis, Nancy Wilson & Kimiko Itoh, Grover Washington Jr, Tony Benett, Wynton Marsalis, Kirk Whalum, Ellis Marsalis, Monte Croft and Terence Blanchard, and more. CD

A soul jazz gem from drummer Alvin Queen – one of the overlooked treasures on his own Nilva Records label from the 80s! The set's a monster all the way through – a cut above so many other sides like this from the time, and put together with a sock-solid energy that almost recalls earlier brilliance on labels like Blue Note or Prestige! Queen's at the head of the group on drums – pushing the lineup with Blakey-like intensity, yet in a slightly looser, more open feel overall – especially when it comes to the structure of the solos. Players include Manny Boyd on saxes, Terence Blanchard on trumpet, Robin Eubanks on trombone, John Hicks on piano, and Ray Drummond on bass – the last of whom produced the record with a very jazz-sensitive ear! Titles include "Hassan", "Europia", "Jammin Uptown", "After Liberation", and "Mind Wine". CD also features the bonus track "Hear Me Drummin". CD

A casual title, but a hell of a cooker from the legendary Art Blakey – one of those great albums from his overlooked run during the 80s – a time when he still had plenty of fire, and the same continuing dedication to the best young players around as he did during the Blue Note years of the 60s! As proof, the album features excellent early work from Terence Blanchard on trumpet, Bill Pierce on tenor, Donald Harrison on alto, Johnny O'Neal on piano, and Charles Fambrough on bass – each of them musicians who'd later make very strong marks as leaders, but who already sparkle strongly here under Blakey's guidance! Art's also got the youngsters writing some great material – another aspect of his magnanimous personality – and titles include "Oh By The Way", "Duck Soup", "Sudan Blue", "Alicia", and "Tropical Breeze". CD

Two Art Blakey killers – packaged in a single set! First up is New York Scene – overlooked genius from Art Blakey's 80s years – a time when he was recording for a variety of smaller labels, but turning out work that was every bit as fresh and vibrant as his sides from the 60s and 70s! As always with the Jazz Messengers, the group's filled with up-and-coming jazz talents that really make the record great – trumpet from Terence Blanchard, tenor from Jean Toussaint, alto from Donald Harrison, piano from Mulgrew Miller, and bass from Lonnie Plaxico – all players who leave their own imprint strongly on the record, yet still fall into line with the core groove supplied by Blakey's drums. Titles include Blanchard's "Oh By The Way", Harrison's "Controversy", and Miller's "Falafel" – all wonderfully soulful numbers – plus a "Ballad Medley", and a version of "Tenderly". Live At Kimballs is a smoking club set – recorded with Terence Blanchard on trumpet, Donald Harrison on alto, Jean Toussaint on tenor, and Mulgrew Miller on piano! The group's got a great soulful swing, and titles include "Jody", "second Thoughts", "Dr Jeckyl", "You & The Night & The Music", and "Old Folks". CD

With Terence Blanchard on trumpet, Branford Marsalis on alto and soprano, Cecil McBee on bass, and Al Foster on drums. Titles include "Zingaro", "Dr Chang", "Cosmonaut", and "Estilo Magnifico". LP, Vinyl record album

With Roy Hargrove, Jon Faddis, Terence Blanchard, Nicholas Payton, and Clark Terry. CD

A key recording from one of our favorite tenor talents of the 80s – the amazing Ralph Moore, a player who really carries on a strong legacy from the 60s work of Hank Mobley! Like Mobley, Moore's got a very rich-voiced sound that's steeped in tradition, but which is also never afraid to take chances too – a way of handling the tenor that few of his contemporaries could match, which is probably why Ralph's presence really upped the ante on so many dates at the time as a sideman. He's even better as a leader, though, and this standout set for Landmark is a real gem – a record filled with freely creative energy throughout, and a never-ending sense of soul – as Moore's tenor is set up nicely in a core group with Benny Green on piano, Peter Washington on bass, and Kenny Washington on drums – the latter of whom brings some of the same magic to this set that Billy Higgins did to Blue Note in the 60s. Terence Blanchard plays trumpet on 4 of the album's tracks – and titles include "Punjab", "Freeway", "Enigma", "Blues For John", "One Second Please", and "Episode From A Village Dance". LP, Vinyl record album

The great Gregory Porter in a very different setting than usual – working here with larger backings from an entire orchestra, as part of the album's tribute to Nat King Cole during his glory days at Capitol Records! The style here isn't the King Cole Trio vibe of the mid 40s, but instead that lush, larger approach of the 50s – when Nat took his jazz roots and transformed them into something even more sophisticated and powerful, at a level that also helped raise both his profile and that of many of his contemporaries – opening the door for generations of musical growth to come. Porter pays back that monumental favor – by turning his amazing vocals loose on a host of standards from the Nat Cole songbook – with core backing by a quartet that features Christian Sands on piano, Reuben Rogers on bass, and Ulysses Owens on drums – plus a bit of guest trumpet from Terence Blanchard. Arrangements and orchestrations are by Vince Mendoza – and titles include "Smile", "Nature Boy", "Love", "Quizas Quizas Quizas", "Mona Lisa", "When Love Was King", "Miss Otis Regrets", "The Christmas Song", "I Wonder Who My Daddy Is", and "Pick Yourself Up". CD

Preservation Hall Jazz Band – joined by Andrew Bird, Paolo Nutini, Tom Waits, Yim Yames, Del McCoury, Ani DiFranco, Pete Seeger & Tao Rodriguez-Seeger, Jason Isbell, Brandi Carlile, Richie Havens, Merle Haggard, The Blind Boys Of Alabama with Clint Maedgen, Dr John, Louis Armstrong, Amy LaVere, Steve Earle, Cory Chisel, Buddy Miller, and Angelique Kidjo & Terence Blanchard. CD

Features Terence Blanchard on trumpet, Donald Harrison on alto, Jean Toussaint on tenor, and Mulgrew Miller on piano! LP, Vinyl record album

Two different slices of Art Blakey – served up here in a 3CD set! Moanin isn't the Blue Note album of the same name, but a fantastic live set from 1968 – recorded after Blakey's classic Blue Note years, but with a group of fantastic players that includes a young Billy Harper on tenor, Ronnie Matthews on piano, and Julian Priester on trombone. Harper alone is worth the price of the CD – as his firey solos are great, and the whole album's an excellent peek at his early career! There's a sense of open freedom here that's quite different than the earlier Jazz Messengers groove – and this European date is a great complement to the better-known US live recording with the same group from the time. The set features a number of nice long tracks – like Slide Hampton's "Slide's Delight", Billy Harper's "Blues For Eros", Bobby Timmons' "Moanin", and the Jazz Messengers' standard "You Don't Know What Love Is". Sesjun Radio Shows 1 is fantastic radio performances from one of our favorite stretches of the legendary Jazz Messengers group – a time when the lineup featured a young Bobby Watson on alto and Valery Ponomarev on trumpet – two players who'd grow into fantastic leaders on their own, but who here help bring a lot of new life to the group! Watson is especially wonderful – contributing a few key compositions, and that soaring spirit in his horn, which really helped usher in a whole new generation for Blakey's group. James Williams is on piano too, and we actually love his work in this group more than on his later sets as a leader – and remaining players include David Schnitter on tenor on the first six tracks, and Billy Pierce on the horn on the remaining two – and either Dennis Irwin or Charles Fambrough on bass. Art's still the rock-solid core of the group – a tremendous leader who always gets fantastic performances out of young players – and titles include "ETA", "Dr J", "Free For All", "Along Came Betty", "ETA", and "Evaline". Sesjun Radio Shows 2 is live work from the great Art Blakey – a set that features two different performances from two really great groups! The first two cuts are from 1980 – from a time when the Jazz Messengers features up and coming 80s giants Bobby Watson on alto, Valery Ponomarev on trumpet, Billy Pierce on tenor, James Williams on piano, and Charles Fambrough on bass – all young musicians who'd evolve into leaders on their own in a few short years after these recordings, but who really sparkle here under Blakey's leadership! The cuts feature a great take on the Williams tune "1977 AD", and a long version of the Jazz Messengers standard "Blues March". The last four tracks feature a slightly later group – still with Fambrough on bass, but including wonderful tenor and soprano sax work from Jean Toussaint, plus trumpet from Terence Blanchard, alto from Donald Harrison, and piano from Johnny O'Neal – an equally great lineup, but in a completely different way. Titles include a great take on the Fambrough tune "Little Man" – plus "Polka Dots & Moonbeams" and "Moanin". CD

Includes Terence Blanchard on trumpet, Jean Toussaint on tenor, Donald Harrison on alto, Lonnie Plaxico on bass and Mulgrew Miller on piano. CD

McCoy Tyner in many flavors – a wonderful record that really shows the depth of his music over the years! Some tracks feature Tyner playing solo – a setting that he always approaches with a bit more force than others – while two more tracks offer a trio with Stanley Clarke on bass and Al Foster on drums, two especially nice numbers feature the Latin All Stars, one more has Gary Bartz on alto and Terence Blanchard on trumpet, and still one more has Bobby Hutcherson on vibes! Throughout it all, McCoy manages to hold things together with a really unified feel – using the solo moments as gentle interludes, before setting fire with the larger groups – and the choice of material is mostly classic, but gets an updated treatment in these readings. Titles include "Afro Blue", "You Taught My Heart To Sing", "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes", "Blue Bossa", "Carriba", and "If I Should Lose You". CD

A relatively recent set from pianist McCoy Tyner, but one that shows the same great ear for choosing a horn that we love in his 70s classics! As with those records, a key force on the recording here is altoist Gary Bartz – a player who's always great on his own, but seems to take on a special energy in the company of Tyner – really stretching out with a soulful, spiritual vibe that matches McCoys musical vision wonderfully! Trumpeter Terence Blanchard is also in the group – a bit more let loose than usual – and the combo's completed by Christian McBride on bass and Lewis Nash on drums. Titles include "Angelina", "Illuminations", "New Orleans Stomp", "The Chase", "West Philly Tone Poem", and "Soulstice". CD

With Branford Marsalis on saxophone, Terence Blanchard on trumpet, and Christian McBride on bass. CD

A post-Art Blakey version of the Jazz Messengers – but one with a killer lineup that really opens up the older Messengers groove! Lewis Nash is on drums here – playing with some slightly more subtle touches than Blakey – and other group members include the great Benny Golson on tenor, Terence Blanchard on trumpet, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Geoff Keezer on piano, and Peter Washington on bass. Golson directs the group, and definitely gives it some of the sharper edges of his own great music – and the presence of Fuller's horn really recalls that great early 60s sextet era when he was working with Art. Titles include "One By One", "A La Mode", "Whisper Not", and "Oh By The Way". CD

With Terence Blanchard, nnenna Freelon, Benny Green, James Moody, Derrick Hodge, and Kendrick Scott. CD