As a legendary Jazz trumpeter, winner of 5 Grammy Awards, and composer of over 60 films including the works of director Spike Lee, it’s easy to assume Terence Blanchard is someone with a lot of confidence. But growing up in New Orleans, he’s just a shy kid with glasses and a lot of uncertainty. In this week’s episode, Terence tells the story of how his mentors, teachers, and heroes gave him the confidence to find his voice and live to his full potential.Listen to Lang Lang's Meditative Story "To become a whole human, never stop learning": http://listen.meditativestory.com/LangLangWWLearn more about Terence: http://www.terenceblanchard.com/Find Terence on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terence_blanchard/Each episode of Meditative Story combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with immersive music and gentle mindfulness prompts. Read the transcript for this story: meditativestory.comSign up for the Meditative Story newsletter: https://meditativestory.com/subscribeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Terrence Blanchard, a legendary musician and composer from New Orleans, joins co-host Yara Allen to explore music's significant role in social justice. They discuss how personal experiences with music can inspire connection and activism. The conversation touches on how songs can respond to tragic events, like the civil rights church bombing, emphasizing the emotional depth of John Coltrane's 'Alabama.' They also address the complexities of nonviolence and the need for collective action in today’s social justice movements, promoting a hopeful call for unity.