Called “a brass-wielding force of nature” by the Los Angeles Times, composer/ trumpeter Terence Blanchard stops by with his GRAMMY-nominated quintet The E-Collective, joined by the acclaimed Turtle Island Quartet, performing music from Blanchard’s 2021 Blue Note release Absence, inspired by the great Wayne Shorter.

Two-time Oscar nominee and six-time Grammy-winner trumpeter/composer Terence Blanchard has been a consistent artistic force making powerful musical statements concerning pivotal moments in American culture–past and present. Blanchard is celebrated not only for his albums and live performances but also for creating strong backdrops to human stories, from his expansive scores for Spike Lee films—such as his Oscar-nominated BlacKkKlansman (2018) score—to his opera, Fire Shut Up in My Bones, which became the first opera by an African American composer to premiere at the Met. 

Make a Plan

• Preferred ticket holders get the best seat in the house and museum admission on the day of or after the event.
• All ticket-holders over the age of five must show proof of a full COVID-19 vaccination (accompanied by a photo ID for those over 18). Read our COVID-19 FAQ here.
• This performance will take place inside MASS MoCA’s Hunter Center. Masks are required during the performance, except while eating and drinking, regardless of vaccination status.
• No outside food or beverages will be allowed in the venue during the event. Small bites and drinks are available for purchase before the show from our museum cafe, Lickety Split.
• Please note, museum admission is not included with your event ticket unless indicated. Purchase museum admission here.
• All events at MASS MoCA are accessible to all audiences. Please contact boxoffice@massmoca.org if you would like to inquire about accessibility needs and services.
• By purchasing a ticket to join MASS MoCA’s visitors, staff, and artists on the museum campus, you agree to follow a Courtesy Code, detailed here. Our full COVID FAQ is here.
• All sales are final; no refunds or exchanges.

Planning on dinner before the show? Check out restaurants in downtown North Adams or find a nosh right here on campus: Bright Ideas Brewing or Lickety Split Cafe. Lickety Split, our museum cafe, will also serve small bites during the show.

This program is supported by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Photo by Cedric Angeles