Terence Blanchard © Andea Canter

The Terence Blanchard Quintet will appear at the  Jazz Standard in New York on Tuesday, July 21st through Sunday, July 26th. The Quintet features Terence Blanchard on trumpet, Walter Smith III on tenor sax, Fabian Almazan on piano, Ben Street on bass, and Kendrick Scott on drums. Last year Blanchard embarked on a nationwide 52–date, 22-state tour as a member of the Monterey Jazz Festival 50th Anniversary All-Stars. That group’s album Live At The 2007 Monterey Jazz Festival earned Terence Blanchard his third career Grammy Award, for Best Jazz Instrumental Solo on the track “Be-Bop.” He also won the Grammy for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album for his previous release A Tale of God's Will (A Requiem for Katrina). 

Andrew Speight

Andrew Speight spearheaded the formation of the Generations Band as a project of the International Center for the Arts at San Francisco State University. Despite changing personnel and the untimely death of original pianist Ronnie Matthews in June 2008, the Generations Band has not only survived but also strengthened its position as the premier cross-generational jazz band, its members’ collective experience encompassing more than 60 years of the music’s history. (Senior statesman Frank Wess was playing with Billy Eckstine’s big band in 1946!) The Generations Band includes Frank Wess on tenor saxophone, Eric Alexander on tenor saxophone, Andrew Speight on alto saxophone, Jim Rotundi on trumpet, David Hazeltine on piano, Ray Drummond on bass, and Kenny Washington on drums. The guiding principles of musicianship and mentorship remain constant in the Generations Band, even as new members like pianist David Hazeltine and trumpeter Jim Rotundi have arrived to offer fresh insights and perspectives. The Generations Band will appear at the Jazz Standard in New York on Thursday, July 9th through Sunday, July 10th. The youthful alto saxophonist  Music Charge: $25 / $30 Friday & Saturday, no minnimum.