Terence Blanchard

Terence Blanchard wears twin hats as a jazz trumpeter and film composer. On this fine set, he does his own versions of famous jazz-inspired pieces from the movies. The tense reading of Ellington's "Anatomy of a Murder" is a study in group dynamics; the orchestral version of Andre Previn's "The Subterraneans" sounds like it's pouring off a screen in real time. While Blanchard's score for Clockers holds up to the classic movie scores, the single finest moments come from the wrenching reading of Jerry Goldsmith's Chinatown theme, featuring a beautiful solo from pianist Kenny Kirkland.