In the second part of our conversation with 2024 NEA Jazz Master (https://www.arts.gov/honors/jazz) trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard (https://www.arts.gov/honors/jazz/terence-blanchard), we explore the emotional and creative depths of his work, from his jazz innovations to his evolution as an opera composer.
Blanchard shares the challenges of scoring the documentary When the Levees Broke and discusses how his Grammy (https://www.grammy.com/)-winning album A Tale of God’s Will emerged from those themes, evolving into a deeply personal statement on loss and resilience. From jazz to film and opera, he examines how his musical voice has expanded across genres, culminating in his historic operas Champion and Fire Shut Up in My Bones—the first opera by an African American to be produced at the Metropolitan Opera. He also discusses his role in bringing the Monk Institute (now the Herbie Hancock Institute) to New Orleans after Katrina and his ongoing dedication as an educator and mentor to young musicians.
He discusses his then-new role as Artistic Director of SFJAZZ (https://www.sfjazz.org/), where he provides opportunities for mid-career as well as emerging musicians and brings innovative programming to audiences. As he reflects on receiving the NEA Jazz Master honor, Blanchard considers the legacy of those who came before him and the responsibility of carrying the music forward.
11 Feb 2025
February 11, 2025
In part one of this two-part interview, trumpeter, composer, and 2024 NEA Jazz Master Terence Blanchard (https://www.arts.gov/honors/jazz/terence-blanchard)speaks about his deep musical roots in New Orleans and how the city’s rich traditions shaped his artistry. He reflects on growing up in a household filled with music, his early piano lessons, and the pivotal moment when he switched to trumpet after hearing Alvin Alcorn. Blanchard discusses the educators who had a lasting impact on him, including Roger Dickerson (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Donald_Dickerson) and Ellis Marsalis (https://www.ellismarsalis.com/), and his formative experiences at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (https://nocca.com/) and Rutgers University. He also shares stories of touring with Lionel Hampton (https://www.arts.gov/honors/jazz/lionel-hampton) as a teenager, learning the ropes of the jazz world, and his time with Art Blakey’s (https://www.arts.gov/honors/jazz/art-blakey) Jazz Messengers, where he honed his skills as a composer and bandleader.
Blanchard also talks about forming a quintet with Donald Harrison (https://www.arts.gov/honors/jazz/donald-harrison-jr) and their commitment to innovation, as well as launching his solo career in the early '90s. He describes his unexpected entry into film composition, starting with Mo’ Better Blues, and how that led to a decades-long collaboration with Spike Lee (https://tisch.nyu.edu/about/directory/grad-film/109468161.html). Blanchard reflects on the challenges and rewards of storytelling through music. Stay tuned for part two of my conversation with Terence Blanchard, where he discusses his work in opera, his ongoing exploration of sound with his current band, taking on the role of artistic director of SFJAZZ (https://www.sfjazz.org/), and his role as an educator mentoring the next generation of musicians.
10 Feb 2025
Strings of Transformation: June Kuramoto and the Journey of the Koto
Koto musician and 2024 National Heritage Fellow June Kuramoto (https://www.arts.gov/honors/heritage/june-kuramoto) shares her remarkable journey from Japan to Los Angeles, recounting the challenges of adapting to a new culture as a young child and how a chance encounter with the koto reconnected her with her heritage. Kuramoto discusses her rise as one of the few koto masters in America, her deep exploration of the instrument’s traditional roots, and her innovative work blending the koto with jazz, R&B, and contemporary music. She reflects on co- founding the Grammy (https://www.grammy.com/)-nominated band Hiroshima (https://hiroshimamusic.com/) with Dan Kuramoto, (https://hiroshimamusic.com/content/bio/dan_bio.html) and how the band redefined Asian American music. Kuramoto also highlights the importance of teaching and passing on tradition while encouraging students to find their unique voices, shares her gratitude for the communities and audiences that embraced the koto’s sound, and reflects on the honor of receiving the National Heritage Fellowship, her commitment to living up to its legacy, and her lifelong mission to expand the koto’s reach across musical genres and cultures.
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