Choices

Terence Blanchard, Dr. Cornel West

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 18, 2009)
• Original Release Date: August 18, 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Concord Records
• ASIN: B002FUI4B0
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #49,778 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Famed trumpeter Terence Blanchard, one of today's most influential jazz musicians, presents his Concord Jazz debut, Choices; an extraordinary piece of work that addresses the choices we all make in life - both as a society and on a personal level. The album features longstanding Blanchard band members Fabian Almazan on piano, Derrick Hodge on saxophone, Kendrick Scott on drums, Lionel Loueke on guitar and Walter Smith III on saxophone - all of whom significantly contributed to the album's compositions. Featured guest artists include Dr. Cornel West [famed writer, speaker, educator and activist] and Bilal [singer, musician, composer]. Choices was recorded live at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art in New Orleans from March 5-8, 2009.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Amazing, Blanchard's best yet!, September 23, 2009

By	Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus! - See all my reviews

If you're wondering about the appearance of Cornell West and Bilal, don't be confused -- this is a very musical, modern jazz CD, and the music is some of the best I've heard. The Terrance Blanchard projects make music that connects with you, is deeply emotional, and musically sophisticated at the same time. And the musicianship is top notch...Terrence Blanchard on trumpet, Lionel Louke on guitar, Kendrick Scott on Drums, Fabian almazan on Piano, and Walter Smith III on Sax. I also like the appearance of Bilal (vocals on two tracks) and was thrilled to hear this band play his beautiful song "When will you call"

This is an amazing CD, and as much as I love 'Flow' and 'A Tale of God's Will', this album in my opinion has built upon those. The compositions are breath-taking, my favorites being Derrick Hodge's "Winding Roads" and "A New World." The other songs are strong as well, but those simply took my breath away.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Album !, October 23, 2009

By	Chad Alexander - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Terrence Blanchard continues to make great original music that continues to sit in a top jazz world. Great arrangements, solos, and the addition of Bilal's vocals were a great touch. The sounds he creates on the trumpet are so unique that there is no other player out there that can touch him. Cornell West's commentary gave the CD a tremendous amount of truth and stirred up many thoughts in my head. Along with Roy Hargrove's Emergence this is the best Jazz CD to come out in 2009. Also I have the great opportunity to see Terrence's band live in DC tonight at Blues Alley, so I am very excited!

Best Tracks:
D's Choice
Hacia Del Aire
Choices
Winding Roads
Touched By an Angel

3 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Here we go, another West tirade in the name of Art!, October 10, 2009

By	E. Macomber "gmonet" (New Bern, NC United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Well, here we go another racial diatribe by wealthy Prof. West and his Harvard 7 digit income. Except for Him or Me...this is not music, jazz or anything but a politcal, socio lame effort on Concord's part to take my money, not caring what color the green is!
I am writing Concord demanding my money back. Balnchard now is on my suck list!