JAZZ REVIEW : Blanchard Trumpets His Talents

Because the image of Terence Blanchard is changing rapidly from that of trumpeter to composer, his appearance from Thursday through Saturday at the Jazz Bakery was a rare and rewarding event. He may soon be too busy writing to play much in public.

Best known now through his scores for the Spike Lee films “Jungle Fever” and “Malcolm X,” Blanchard brought with him the identical group heard in the studio-recorded version of his “Malcolm X Jazz Suite.” On Friday, he presented two of the movements, the main theme and “Betty’s Theme.”

Inevitably, one tends to compare Blanchard to Wynton Marsalis (both are 31 and studied in New Orleans with Marsalis’ father), but Blanchard, with his biting tonal edge, sudden shifts of tempo and emotion, makes an even stronger and more personalized statement.

Buttressed by Sam Newsome on tenor sax and Bruce Barth on piano, two soloists who are unfettered in their explorations, the group sustained the fierce, impassioned character of the music throughout a stunningly cohesive performance.

Spontaneity reaches new heights within this unit. During a half-mocking treatment of “I’m Getting Sentimental Over You,” Blanchard hit on a five-note phrase that was Ping-Ponged back and forth, with Barth and Newsome clearly relishing these moments of extemporaneous joy.

Throughout his program, Blanchard offered incontrovertible evidence that the great soloists are always potentially great composers. Today, without question, he can claim to be both.