Live (Terence Blanchard album)

Just as the preceding album Breathless, the present record explores the painful themes of racism, gun violence, and hate in the modern America. The E-Collective includes Blanchard on trumpet, playing alongside guitarist Charles Altura, pianist Fabian Almazan, drummer Oscar Seaton, and bassist David “DJ” Ginyard.{{cite web|last1=Micucci|first1=Matt|title=Terence Blanchard to release new live album|url=https://www.jazziz.com/terence-blanchard-release-new-live-album/|website=JAZZIZ|publisher=jazziz.com|accessdate=23 May 2018}} The "Live" tour also featured Tondrae Kemp on vocals. Live’s tracks were recorded during the concerts performed in three cities where confrontations between the police and African Americans escalated into unconscionable tragedy.{{cite web|last1=Mitchell|first1=Gail|title=Terence Blanchard Talks New Album 'Live,' Gun Violence & Working With Spike Lee|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8362505/terence-blanchard-goes-live-to-quell-gun-violence-spike-lee|website=Billboard|publisher=billboard.com|accessdate=23 May 2018|date=April 21, 2018}} In Cleveland, a 12-year-old boy was fatally shot by police in 2014; in Dallas, five police officers were killed in an ambush in 2016; and in St. Paul, just days before the Dallas murders, a police officer fatally shot a black motorist during a traffic stop outside the city.{{cite web|last1=Phillips|first1=Lucas|title=On ‘Live,’ Terence Blanchard steps into the firing line|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/music/2018/04/18/live-terence-blanchard-steps-into-firing-line/1p7sDbIIpFepF4X3H0uzgM/story.html|website=The Boston Globe|publisher=bostonglobe.com|accessdate=23 May 2018|date=April 18, 2018}}

The five out of seven compositions in the album are written by Blanchard. Track 7 features the voice of Dr. Cornel West.

Lucas Phillips of The Boston Globe wrote "From the first moment of Terence Blanchard’s “Live,” a moody drone creeping up from beneath the applause, there is the unmistakable feeling that something drastic took place just before it. It's like the scene in a movie right after a violent climax where everyone is left to figure out what the heck just happened: Cue the music... The result is the honest, troubled vision of an onlooker trying to bring into sound the feelings of desolation, empowerment, anger, and confusion those incidents brought to their communities."{{cite web|last1=Phillips|first1=Lucas|title=On ‘Live,’ Terence Blanchard steps into the firing line|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/music/2018/04/18/live-terence-blanchard-steps-into-firing-line/1p7sDbIIpFepF4X3H0uzgM/story.html|website=The Boston Globe|publisher=bostonglobe.com|accessdate=23 May 2018|date=April 18, 2018}}

Sammy Stein of Something Else! noted "... a great album musically, and it is clear Terence Blanchard has surrounded himself with accomplished and devastatingly capable musicians, well able to interpret his compositional works. I would like to hear this in concert, as it feels a little like some of the energy and freneticism is lost in the recording. The noise is softened, the aggression somehow quieted, as if just a tad afraid to fully unleash. Any holding back of emotion, however, is made up for in the sheer musicality of the band. This is a great album, and one worthy of many listens."{{cite web|last1=stein|first1=Sammy|title=Terence Blanchard featuring the E-Collective – Live (2018)|url=http://somethingelsereviews.com/2018/05/02/terence-blanchard-e-collective-live/|website=Something Else Reviews|publisher=somethingelsereviews.com|accessdate=23 May 2018|date=2 May 2018}} Writing for Offbeat, Geraldine Wyckoff commented, "Having such a vital theme and being performed in concert settings, Live shares a strong resemblance to a suite of music, as did Breathless. They stand together in purpose and passion."{{cite web |last1=Wyckoff |first1=Geraldine |title=Terence Blanchard, Live (Blue Note) |url=http://www.offbeat.com/music/terence-blanchard-live-blue-note/ |website=OffBeat Magazine |accessdate=22 February 2020 |date=23 April 2018}}

{{Track listing

| collapsed =

| headline =

| total_length = {{Duration|h=01|m=15|s=47}}

| title_width = 450px

| title1 = Hannibal

| writer1 = Marcus Miller

| length1 = 11:00

| title2 = Kaos

| writer2 = Blanchard

| length2 = 12:07

| title3 = Unchanged

| writer3 = Charles Altura

| length3 = 13:27

| title4 = Soldiers

| writer4 = Blanchard

| length4 = 8:23

| title5 = Dear Jimi

| writer5 = Blanchard

| length5 = 4:45

| title6 = Can Anyone Hear Me

| writer6 = Blanchard

| length6 = 8:55

| title7 = Choices

| writer7 = Blanchard

| length7 = 17:10

}}

Band

• Terence Blanchard – keyboards, producer, trumpet
• Fabian Almazan – keyboards, piano
• Charles Altura – guitar (electric)
• David Ginyard – bass (electric)
• Oscar Seaton – drums
• Tondrae Kemp – vocals (live)
• Dr. Cornel West – spoken word

Production

• Henry Adebonojo – photography
• Robin Burgess – producer
• Gavin Lurssen – mastering
• Paul Moore – design
• Andrew F. Scott – cover art
• Frank Wolf – engineer, mixing, producer
• Tondrae Kemp – tour manager

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{Official website|http://www.terenceblanchard.com/album/live}}

{{Terence Blanchard}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2018 live albums

Category:Terence Blanchard albums

Category:Blue Note Records live albums