Jazzing It Up
Terence Blanchard brings his statement-making sound to Opening Nights

Renowned as a gifted composer and trumpet player, Terence Blanchard splits his time between Los Angeles and his native New Orleans. These cities have influenced his musicality, as Los Angeles breaks through the cutting edge while New Orleans resonates with sounds deep within his roots.
As part of Opening Nights, seven-time Grammy award winner Blanchard will be joined by his Grammy-nominated band, the E-Collective, as well as special guests, the Turtle Island Quartet on April 5 at 7:30 p.m. at Ruby Diamond Concert Hall.
Blanchard has released several albums and has been featured on many, marking his 30th year in music in 2021 with his record Absence, featuring his longtime band E-Collective and the acclaimed Turtle Island Quartet. The members of E-Collective include pianist Fabian Almazan, guitarist Charles Altura, bassist David Ginyard and drummer Oscar Seaton. Turtle Island Quartet consists of violinist/artistic director David Balakirshnan, cellist Naseem Alatrsh, violinist Gabriel Terracciano and violist Benjamin Von Gutzeit.
2021 continued to be a remarkable year as Blanchard was nominated for an Oscar for his film score writing and arrangement of Spike Leeâs Da 5 Bloods, marking his second Academy Awards nomination.
While Terence is well-recognized within the jazz industry, his talents extend into the realms of film scoring, developing television series soundscapes and conceptualizing grand operas that have been highly awarded.
âIâm most excited about experiencing the passion and innovation that Terence Blanchard is known for,â said Noelle Enright, marketing associate with Opening Nights at Florida State University. âHeâs a force of nature on the trumpet, backed by the E-Collective and Turtle Island Quartet.â
Throughout his career, Blanchard has made impacts through the powerful messaging of his music, much of which stems from painful current-day and historic American tragedies and often touches on sociocultural and racial injustice issues.
As an artist, Blanchard perfectly embodies Opening Nightâs mission to present diverse and innovative artistic experiences that engage and inspire the community. As an artist who has broken barriers and pushed boundaries in every genre heâs touched, he is sure to resonate with audience members.
âAudiences can expect a high-energy and emotionally charged performance,â said Enright.
âTerence Blanchard is known for his ability to connect with his audience on a deep level, and his music is both powerful and moving.â
To learn more about Blanchard and purchase tickets, visit openingnights.fsu.edu/events/terence-blanchard-and-the-e-collective/.