A Young Trumpeter Steps Forward
Blanchard was ready to take his place as one of the trumpet giants of the '90s.
What makes this debut matter is Branford Marsalis. By 1991, Marsalis was already established—a saxophonist with serious chops and the kind of restless intelligence that could either anchor a session or derail it. Here, paired with Terence Blanchard, he grounds the album without overshadowing it. The two horns trade phrases on the uptempo numbers, and on the ballads, Marsalis gives space for Blanchard's tone to breathe. It's the sound of a young leader getting pushed by someone who knows how to listen.
Blanchard frames the whole thing with hymns—"Motherless Child" and "Amazing Grace" at the top and tail—which signals something serious about what he wants to say. The four originals between them show a writer thinking beyond the session itself. Bruce Barth on piano and Rodney Whitaker on bass provide the harmonic bed, steady and supportive. Jeffrey "Tain" Watts on drums brings enough energy to keep things moving without cluttering the space.
Leonard Feather in the Los Angeles Times found "new elements and an often invigorating lineup," and there's truth in that assessment. This isn't a record trying to prove anything or settle old scores. It's straightforward—a trumpeter, a saxophonist, a rhythm section, some standards, some originals. Blanchard had just finished arranging and playing on Spike Lee's Mo' Better Blues, so the confidence here was earned, not assumed.
Who's playing
Rodney Whitakerdouble bass
Bruce Barthpiano
Branford Marsalistenor saxophone
Sam Newsometenor saxophone
Terence Blanchardtrumpet
Jeffrey “Tain” Wattsdrums
Troy Davisdrums
Where next?
More by Terence Blanchard
All 23 albums →
The musicians on this record
Their own records, close in time
