Terence Blanchard: Looking Forward

Terence Blanchard has established himself as one of the most influential jazz musicians and film score masters of his generation. Terence belongs to a jazz legacy that has shaped the contours of modern jazz today. As a jazz musician, Blanchard is a four time-Grammy Award winner who often finds himself touring with his band and jazz giants like Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter, and recording with rap artists like Common. He is the Artistic Director of The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance, which he helped move from Los Angeles to New Orleans on the campus of Loyola University. The Monk Institute’s Jazz Performance program is the world’s most intensive graduate-level college jazz education program, attracting top young jazz musicians from around the world. Terence wanted the program in New Orleans because after Katrina, New Orleans was shaken and its musical roots were threatened. He grew up in this city and learned about jazz here with other young jazz musicians. Terence knew that the Institute could have a great impact on jazz and our communities. He wanted to work hard to help jazz and New Orleans flourish once again. Through the Institute’s community outreach, he has seen young people that have had traumatic experiences in the aftermath of Katrina, but no verbal skills to communicate them. Art, Terence believes, is one way to release those feelings and allow kids to find their way through the world – a ripple effect that is positive for our community.

Terence moved back to New Orleans in 1995 after over 15 years in New York. He wanted to come home where it all began, to reconnect out of necessity, where people play music because they love it, not just to be famous.

First of all, Terence would like to see another Super Bowl win. But in all seriousness, there is a need to bring back music education in our schools. Music is part of our history in New Orleans. He’d also like to see more live/outdoor performances in our community and more attention and dollars spent towards bringing in international musicians. Terence believes this will lead to the growth of our music industry and expose young musicians to world-class musicians. With the success of the film industry in the city, Terence firmly thinks that more New Orleans musicians should compose music for film, as Terence has for over 50 films, like “Mo’ Better Blues,” “Inside Man,” “Eve’s Bayou,” “Barbershop,” and “Cadillac Records.”

Terence’s definition of Vision is to be able to clearly see artistic ideas and allow them to speak to you no matter where you want to go. He feels that being an artist is a struggle between being who you want to be and who you really are. Vision entails being able to look at whom you are honestly, leaving your biases, and growing from there.

Terence was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana and has been wearing glasses since the 2nd grade.