Trumpeter, composer, bandleader Terence Blanchard’s upcoming NOLA performances

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Professor, band leader, trumpeter, composer and New Orleans native Terence Blanchard has come home for a special performance.

“It hurts me to say this, but I’m celebrating the album that I did 20 years ago. Felt like it was two weeks ago but it’s been 20 years. The album was produced by Herbie Hancock. It’s called ‘Flow.’ So we’re revisiting that music and I have my band playing with us,” said Blanchard.

The show will be Friday, May 2 at Chickie Wah Wah. Doors open at 7 p.m. with the show starting at 8 p.m.

Blanchard will also be in the Jazz tent at the Jazz and Heritage Festival on Sunday, May 4 with his band E-Collective.

“Yeah, we’re going to do some of the same music for the Jazz Fest show and we’re going to bring Michael May out. I mean, we’re happy. We’re having a lot of fun playing this music. Revisiting it with this band, is being like a kid again,” said Blanchard.

He will also be going on tour with legendary Jazz musician and bandleader Herbie Hancock who he has been playing with for the past three years.

“People say, what is it like, you know, playing with Herbie? I said, well, imagine yourself in a boxing ring with 85-year-old man and he’s just tearing you up.” said Blanchard.

In addition to his many performances, he is also working on his third opera which he says is very exciting.

“Walter Isaacson is going to write the story and he’s not going to do the libretto. It’s going to be about Lulu White and the brothels she had in New Orleans, where Louis Armstrong used to hang out,” said Blanchard.