A Tale of God's Will (A Requiem for Katrina)
Encyclopedia
A Tale of God's Will is an album recorded in 2007 by the Terence Blanchard
Quintet.
In 2008, won a Grammy Award
for "Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album," and was nominated for "Best Jazz Instrument Solo" for his work on the song, "Levees."
commissioned New Orleans native Terence Blanchard to compose the score for his 2006 four-hour award-winning HBO documentary "When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts
", to show the agony of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
in 2005. In 2007 Blanchard recorded "A Tale of God's Will", which contains parts ("The Water," "Levees," "Wading Through" and "Funeral Dirge") of the recording that were heard in Spike Lee's documentary. Terence Blanchard’s mother Wilhelmina lost her Pontchartrain Park
home in the tragedy, but thankfully survived with her life. The recording closes with "Dear Mom," Blanchard's heartfelt tribute to her.
Blanchard, was accompanied by his quintet and the Northwest Sinfonia, a 40-member string orchestra (which he conducted and co-orchestrated). All the songs were written by four members of Blanchard's Quintet serve to offer their own perspective of the tragedy. The opening track "Ghosts Of Congo Square" is a vibrant Afro-Cuban style rhythm track, represents: a place where those who resisted slavery were publicly hung. Later, after the days of slavery had ended, Congo Square
became a place where local people would gather and share the percussion music that their ancestors brought with them from Africa. The second track "Levees" opens with melancholy strings, provided by the Northwest Sinfonia orchestra, and as Blanchard’s trumpet eases into the mix, one can imagine old and tired levees straining to hold back the water that never ceases to push against them. The tracks "Ghost of Betsy" and "The Water," Blanchard drew on his own experiences as a little boy when Hurricane Betsy
flooded his Lower 9th Ward neighborhood in 1965. He intended "Funeral Dirge" as a dignified repast for a montage of dead bodies. Pianist Aaron Parks
contributed "Ashe" as a benediction. Drummer Kendrick Scott
describes his "Mantra" as a "mantra for healing and renewal." Bassist Derrick Hodge
's lush, lovely "Over There," written before Katrina, nonetheless fit the CD's theme. Saxophonist Brice Winston wrote "In Time of Need" after moving with his family from New Orleans to Tucson, Arizona
.
Terence Blanchard
Terence Oliver Blanchard is an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, arranger, and film score composer. Since he emerged on the scene in 1980 with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra and then shortly thereafter with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Blanchard has been a leading artist in jazz...
Quintet.
In 2008, won a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for "Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album," and was nominated for "Best Jazz Instrument Solo" for his work on the song, "Levees."
Background
Film director Spike LeeSpike Lee
Shelton Jackson "Spike" Lee is an American film director, producer, writer, and actor. His production company, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, has produced over 35 films since 1983....
commissioned New Orleans native Terence Blanchard to compose the score for his 2006 four-hour award-winning HBO documentary "When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts
When the Levees Broke
When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts is a 2006 documentary film directed by Spike Lee about the devastation of New Orleans, Louisiana due to the failure of the levees during Hurricane Katrina. It was filmed in late August and early September 2005, and premiered at the New Orleans Arena on...
", to show the agony of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
in 2005. In 2007 Blanchard recorded "A Tale of God's Will", which contains parts ("The Water," "Levees," "Wading Through" and "Funeral Dirge") of the recording that were heard in Spike Lee's documentary. Terence Blanchard’s mother Wilhelmina lost her Pontchartrain Park
Pontchartrain Park, New Orleans
Pontchartrain Park is a neighborhood of the city of New Orleans. A subdistrict of the Gentilly District Area, its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are: Leon C. Simon Drive to the north, the Industrial Canal to the east, Dreux Avenue to the south and Peoples Avenue to the...
home in the tragedy, but thankfully survived with her life. The recording closes with "Dear Mom," Blanchard's heartfelt tribute to her.
Blanchard, was accompanied by his quintet and the Northwest Sinfonia, a 40-member string orchestra (which he conducted and co-orchestrated). All the songs were written by four members of Blanchard's Quintet serve to offer their own perspective of the tragedy. The opening track "Ghosts Of Congo Square" is a vibrant Afro-Cuban style rhythm track, represents: a place where those who resisted slavery were publicly hung. Later, after the days of slavery had ended, Congo Square
Congo Square
Congo Square is an open space within Louis Armstrong Park, which is located in the Tremé neighborhood of New Orleans, Louisiana, just across Rampart Street north of the French Quarter. The Tremé neighborhood is famous for its history of African American music....
became a place where local people would gather and share the percussion music that their ancestors brought with them from Africa. The second track "Levees" opens with melancholy strings, provided by the Northwest Sinfonia orchestra, and as Blanchard’s trumpet eases into the mix, one can imagine old and tired levees straining to hold back the water that never ceases to push against them. The tracks "Ghost of Betsy" and "The Water," Blanchard drew on his own experiences as a little boy when Hurricane Betsy
Hurricane Betsy
Hurricane Betsy was a Category 4 hurricane of the 1965 Atlantic hurricane season which caused enormous damage in the Bahamas, Florida, and Louisiana. Betsy made its most intense landfall near the mouth of the Mississippi River, causing significant flooding of the waters of Lake Pontchartrain into...
flooded his Lower 9th Ward neighborhood in 1965. He intended "Funeral Dirge" as a dignified repast for a montage of dead bodies. Pianist Aaron Parks
Aaron Parks
Aaron Parks is a jazz pianist.-Personal:Aaron entered the University of Washington at the age of 14 through the Transition School and Early Entrance Program as a double major in computer science and music...
contributed "Ashe" as a benediction. Drummer Kendrick Scott
Kendrick Scott
Kendrick Scott is an American jazz drummer, bandleader and composer. Scott is the founder of the World Culture Music Record Company.-Biography:Kendrick A.D. Scott was born and raised in Houston, Texas...
describes his "Mantra" as a "mantra for healing and renewal." Bassist Derrick Hodge
Derrick Hodge
Derrick Hodge is an American bassist, composer, and music producer. He is also the founder of Son of Knowledge Music and Son of Knowledge Entertainment.- Biography :...
's lush, lovely "Over There," written before Katrina, nonetheless fit the CD's theme. Saxophonist Brice Winston wrote "In Time of Need" after moving with his family from New Orleans to Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
.
Performers
- Terence BlanchardTerence BlanchardTerence Oliver Blanchard is an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, arranger, and film score composer. Since he emerged on the scene in 1980 with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra and then shortly thereafter with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Blanchard has been a leading artist in jazz...
– Trumpet - Aaron ParksAaron ParksAaron Parks is a jazz pianist.-Personal:Aaron entered the University of Washington at the age of 14 through the Transition School and Early Entrance Program as a double major in computer science and music...
– Piano - Brice Winston – Tenor and Soprano Saxophones
- Derrick HodgeDerrick HodgeDerrick Hodge is an American bassist, composer, and music producer. He is also the founder of Son of Knowledge Music and Son of Knowledge Entertainment.- Biography :...
– Acoustic and Electric Basses - Kendrick ScottKendrick ScottKendrick Scott is an American jazz drummer, bandleader and composer. Scott is the founder of the World Culture Music Record Company.-Biography:Kendrick A.D. Scott was born and raised in Houston, Texas...
– Drums, Percussion - Zach Harmon – Tabla drums
- Northwest Sinfonia, 40-member string orchestra: Conducted by Terence Blanchard
Track listing
| Track | Song Title | Composer | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Ghost of Congo Square | Blanchard, Hodge, Scott | 3:01 |
| 2. | Levees | Blanchard | 8:07 |
| 3. | Wading Through | Blanchard | 6:27 |
| 4. | Ashé | Parks | 8:18 |
| 5. | In Time of Need | Winston | 7:53 |
| 6. | Ghost of Betsy | Blanchard | 1:58 |
| 7. | The Water | Blanchard | 4:07 |
| 8. | Mantra Intro | Scott | 3:22 |
| 9. | Mantra | Scott | 9:49 |
| 10. | Over There | Hodge | 7:43 |
| 11. | Ghost of 1927 | Blanchard | 1:38 |
| 12. | Funeral Dirge | Blanchard | 5:51 |
| 13. | Dear Mom | Blanchard | 3:39 |
Billboard Chart
| Billboard Chart | ||||
| Year | Category | Weeks on Chart | Peak Position | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Top Jazz Album | 16 | 6 | |