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American Morning

Jazz Musician Terence Blanchard Says: "Let's Get Lost"

Aired May 31, 2001 - 11:38   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LAURIN SYDNEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, everybody -- with a rather interesting story today.

He won a Grammy and now a controversial rapper is going Hollywood, believe it or not. "Daily Variety" reports that Eminem will make his acting debut in a film to be directed by Curtis Hanson. Previous films by Hanson were "L.A. Confidential" and "Wonder Boys."

In the untitled feature, Eminem will play, of all things, a troubled young rapper from Detroit. Hanson says that says Eminem's character is fictitious despite the fact he is a young rapper from Detroit who does have troubles with the law.

One musician who is having no trouble getting people to duet with him is trumpeter Terence Blanchard. The prolific jazz artist and movie score composer has a new album out where he gets some help from some very high-profile friends.

Our friend Bill Tush caught up with the busy musician up on the roof.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BILL TUSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We're on the penthouse terrace of The Hudson.

Let's say hello to Terence Blanchard, who is with us, voted in the year 2000 "DownBeat"'s trumpeter of the year and artist of the year, and Grammy nominee, and composer of movie scores.

TERENCE BLANCHARD, JAZZ MUSICIAN: That's right.

TUSH: A lot of things going on.

BLANCHARD: Yes.

TUSH: You've got a new album out called "Let's Get Lost."

BLANCHARD: Right.

TUSH: And I don't know if it's dedicated to Jimmy McHugh, but it's a lot of -- all of his songs are on there.

BLANCHARD: It's all of his songs. I wanted to do an album of his music, because when I started to do research into some of these songs that I love, I didn't realize he was the guy who wrote all of these things.

So I thought it would be appropriate to investigate some of his other material. So I've just been very happy in doing the project. And I have some great singers on the project: Jane Monheit, Cassandra Wilson, Dianne Reeves and Diana Krall.

TUSH: How do you get all those people on that album? Just call them up?

BLANCHARD: Yes. I was very blessed, because three of the women I have known for a number of years. And we've been friends for awhile. And I have always wanted to work with them in some capacity. And this was the perfect opportunity. Jane is a newcomer. And I knew she had a great talent and a great voice. And I knew that she belonged, to be on the project.

TUSH: And she's going to do something with you here...

BLANCHARD: Yes. Yes.

TUSH: ... on the terrace in just about a minute or so.

Jimmy McHugh, tell us about him a little bit.

BLANCHARD: Jimmy McHugh...

TUSH: A lot of people don't know who he is.

BLANCHARD: Well, he's an interesting guy, because for me, as a composer, when you study composition, there are certain things fundamentally about composition that you always study in terms of great works. And all of his songs adhere to these fundamentals.

He also is interesting because he used to write -- he used to work up at the Cotton Club with Dorothy Fields. They wrote a lot of great music. And he's been heavily entrenched in the jazz community. But the interesting thing about him is that his stuff has been recorded by a wide array of musicians, not just jazz musicians.

And when you look at the list of people who have recorded his music, it's pretty amazing.

TUSH: Did he get his residuals?

BLANCHARD: I hope so.

(LAUGHTER)

TUSH: Oh, OK. That's what we want to worry about.

(LAUGHTER)

TUSH: OK. All right. And you're going to do one of those songs right now with Jane. BLANCHARD: Yes. Yes.

TUSH: Jane Monheit?

BLANCHARD: Yes. We're going to do "I Can't Give You Anything But Love."

TUSH: OK. And that's a great one.

That's his song?

BLANCHARD: Yes.

TUSH: Wow. And it's through the magic of television, here you come. See, you have got to do this.

BLANCHARD: All right.

(LAUGHTER)

TUSH: We're going to slowly get you into here playing.

(LAUGHTER)

("I CAN'T GIVE YOU ANYTHING BUT LOVE")

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SYDNEY: There was lots of sex appeal at the season premiere party for "Sex and the City" Wednesday night. It was a typical star- studded New York event, as Sarah Jessica Parker and cast mates celebrated the start of another season of the hit HBO show.

A little later today, we'll take you behind the scenes of last night's big soiree. And we'll talk to Parker's husband, Matthew Broderick. He's a co-host and a nominee at this Sunday's Tony Awards. That will be in our 2:35 p.m. "Showbiz Today Report."

Until then, in New York, I'm Laurin Sydney.

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