Terence Blanchard - Choices ****

A new chapter in Blanchard’s career begins with this album, his first for a new label. Part searing hard bop and ballads album, part lecture it contains, rather than snippets of spoken word elements or skits, mini-expositions instead; on intellectualism, the state of the nation and much more from leading scholar Dr Cornel West. While West shoots the breeze Blanchard and his band alternate between urban hard bop with a very up-to-the-moment feel and thoughtful ballads featuring singer Bilal, best known for his work with Blanchard’s friend Robert Glasper.

While some listeners might be put off by Dr West’s theorising his presence is a lot more substantial than most spoken word collaborations tend to be. The album as a result is more of a statement and also quite radical in the sense that the social and political consciousness often paid lip service to by some musicians off the record is actually completely upfront in words and music. By recording in New Orleans and making his first album since Barack Obama became President of the USA, Blanchard has not shirked in his duty as a musician or as a citizen here. The album is also surprisingly tender and the ballads come off best. Loueke’s presence is also keenly felt and if anything he’s more impressive playing with Blanchard than he has shown so far on his own albums.

Stephen Graham