Terence Blanchard - Bounce

TERENCE G.

If I wanted to listen to smooth jazz I would just find the lame station here in NOLA
Mr. Blanchard suns one in live venues, but the last few longplayers have slud down to
dis and not ever going to rebound. Please Mister throw us something like real Jazz?? November 27, 2007

Spontaneous Groove Unleashed

I was drawn by the arrangement of Footprints on this album...think it's one of the best I've heard in a long time of hearing Footprints played in so many different ways by so many different artists, both local &
well-known. The rest of the tracs are smokin' too though. I'm pleased my attention was caught by his playing, he's not afraid to express himself & goes above & beyond the "comfort zone" so many musicians seem to settle into. January 27, 2007

Blanchard's best

As an earlier reviewer stated, Blanchard has recorded a number of fine albums, but this is the best. The compositions and arrangements are strong, the ensemble playing is flawless, the solos--from all players--range from good to mind-blowing. This album finds the sweet spot between adherence to tradition and openness to modernity.

Please ignore those who say that a couple of the cuts sound like smooth jazz; they don't. The most you could say is that a couple of the cuts bear a superficial similarity to smooth jazz, in the same sense that some of Pat Metheny's music bears a superfical similarity to New Age. But if you can't hear the difference between Terence Blanchard and Dave Koz, or the difference between Pat Metheny and Yanni, then God help you. January 6, 2007

Very Good, Not Great

For clarification, if Amazon provided half stars, I'd give this three and a half.

All the discussion about Mr. Marsalis is unnecessary. He and TB are both contemporary Jazz trumpeters but that's where the similarity ends.

This is a fine session, the band is loose throughout and there's a very good selection of songs here, half of them TB originals and half of them covers (though no "standards"). On a couple of songs the playing almost moves a little too close to Smoothe Jazz territory for my comfort. However, for example on "passionate Courage", Aaron Parks' excellent piano playing salvages the song.

Altogether an enjoyable listen, though by no meams a classic. (Thankfully Mr. Blanchard avoids the tendency to include exercises in screeching dissonance to obtain "credibility" among some of the critical circles.) July 12, 2005

Good, but not great...

The compositions on this album are great. The musicians too, are very good - especially drummer eric harland and pianist aaron parks but blanchard's playing leaves a LOT to be desired. First of, the horns on this recording sound like they were recorded in a bathroom or echo chamber - the reverb is just too much. Secondly, blanchards playing seems less than inspired and frankly I thought I'd enjoy the album more if his solos were cut out. I won't articulate why I feel that way - it's only a matter of opinion, after all, aye? Ultiamtely the CD over all is pretty strong though. Again, the compositions are great and sound quality is very good too. December 17, 2003

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