TERENCE BLANCHARD BREATHLESS

2015 - 2016

Terence Blanchard and the E-Collective set off on a new musical journey with his new album Breathless. An innovative and electric exploration into the fusion of jazz, funk, R&B and blues featuring Oscar Seaton on drums, Donald Ramsey on bass, Charles Altura on guitar and Fabian Almazan on keyboard/piano/synths. Produced by Blanchard and his manager Robin Burgess and executive produced by Blue Note president Don Was, the adventurous 13-tune recording zeroes in on several Blanchard originals, an epic-length piece by Almazan and a scattering of covers, sung by soothing and soulful vocalist P.J. Morton (a member of the band Maroon 5). We were brought in as a member of Burgess Management team to strategize, create, augment, and implement the release marketing in collaboration with Blue Note Records. Extremely crucial were the creation of content that would get to the heart of Blanchard's message without being pedantic. Editorial placement of two essays and a campaign of videos supplemented Blue Note's press push. Later on, we worked to increase the industry's awareness of this release and the underlying messages of import during the Grammy Voting Process. Breathless was nominated for a Best Jazz Instrumental Album Grammy.