Terence Blanchard brilliantly continues his life-long exploration of jazz on his latest release. As one would expect of a musician of his caliber, broad experience, talent and passion, the trumpeter, composer and arranger brings his all to every work. On this, his return to the Blue Note label, Blanchard, 51, teams with longtime collaborators saxophonist Brice Winston and drummer Kendrick Scott and again with Cuban-born pianist Fabian Almazan, who debuted with Blanchard’s band on the trumpeter’s Grammy winning album, A Tale of God’s Will, plus newcomer, 21-year-old bassist Joshua Crumbly.
As always, Blanchard remains generous to his younger, very able crew both in playing time and by offering each member the opportunity to contribute compositions to the endeavor. (That philosophy stems back to the trumpeter’s years with the legendary drummer Art Blakey.) However, there is never a doubt who leads this session for when Blanchard’s imaginative horn steps in with its bright tone, sublime slurs and notes that reach the stratosphere, he is master.

Magnetic is serious jazz music that through its spirit and the artists’ vivid execution is able to instigate a smile and even a laugh.

Personnel
Terence Blanchard - trumpet
Fabian Almazan - piano
Kendrick Scott - drums
Brice Winston - tenor saxophone (1, 2, 5, 6, 10)
Joshua Crumbly - bass (2, 4-6, 8-10)
Ron Carter - bass (1, 3)
Ravi Coltrane - soprano saxophone (3), tenor saxophone (4)
Lionel Loueke - guitar (4, 5, 9)

Tracklist
01 Magnetic
02 Jacob's Ladder
03 Don't Run
04 Pet Step Sitter's Theme Song
05 Hallucinations
06 No Borders Just Horizons
07 Comet
08 Central Focus
09 Another Step
10 Time to Spare