This is a second short playlist of versions of the classic American song, "St. James Infirmary," to follow up on the initial list presented last Saturday.
We start with a version from George E. Lee & His Orchestra. Lee was the older brother of Julia Lee who became quite popular as a pianist and vocalist.
One of the great New Orleans trumpeters to come out of New Orleans after Louis Armstrong, Henry 'Red' Allen performed this song while touring England with the Alex Welsh band. Incidentally, Allen was with King Oliver's Band when this was recorded in 1930 under Oliver's name.
There have been so many great recordings from this from the likes of Eric Burdon, Lou Rawls, and Van Morrison. In this vein we have Tom Jones and Rhiannon Giddens singing it.
Next up is the great James Booker.
There are so many other choices I could have chosen including solo acoustic renditions from Josh White Snooks Eaglin, Doc Watson or Dave Van Ronk. Other versions I might have selected include those Trombone Shorty at the White House, various Brass Bands, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Dee Dee Bridgewater, or Cassandra Wilson. To end this playlist though I have selected Jon Batiste & Stay Human from the 2018 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
Jon Batiste
Anatomy of Angels - Live at the Village Vanguard
Verve Records
Jon Batiste's latest recording brings together performances from different shows during a 6-night residency at New York City's fabled Village Vanguard, Batiste is, of course, best known as the bandleader for Late Night with Stephen Colbert. Still, this writer has been aware of him long before his present celebrity from seeing him performing at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival where his set crossed genres. Of course, he comes from one of the great musical families of New Orleans, which include Alvin Batiste, Lionel Batiste, Harold Battiste, Russell Batiste, and David Batiste. The first recording of his that I noticed was an exuberant rendition of Thelonious Monk's "Green Chimneys," but seeing him a couple of times since he impressed not merely by his mastery of the piano but the joy that he conveys when playing.
His recent collaboration with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra devoted to the music of John Lewis comes highly recommended. This, like that recording, showcases the jazz side of Batiste whose music still continues to generally transcend classification. He is backed by his long-time collaborators, bassist Phil Kuehn, and drummer Joe Saylor. Also present on some selections are vocalist Rachael Price; tenor saxophonist Tivon Pennicott, alto saxophonist Patrick Bartley, trumpeters Giveton Gelin and Jon Lampley, percussionist and guitarist Louis Cato, and percussionist Nêgah Santos.
About the five selections, Batiste states, "The music on this release is all live, no edits or retakes. It's a snapshot of live art. I composed and arranged these songs as vehicles for exploration, to be dissected and put back together, live in action, never to be played the same way twice." He composed three selections, arranged a Thelonious Monk composition, and arranged a song from the American songbook.
"Creative" is the opening composition. Batiste states that "Creative' was first written in 2011 as a part of a suite I was commissioned to do for The Museum of Arts and Design. I approached it like a builder. The architecture of this composition is akin to blending different styles of design. It's all about the balance of each section and how we maintain our equilibrium while navigating the sections. It is a fascinating trio performance with one section having a Monk-like simplicity with another having in him playing in a free vein while Kuehn and Saylor easily navigate the transitions into a different section. Then there is the tour de force "Dusk Train To Doha," with Batiste spellbinding on this blues original. Raechel Price is heard singing the standard "The Very Thought of You." She sings beautifully and coveys the melancholy of the lyrics framed by Batiste's restrained, understated accompaniment.
On "Round Midnight," Batiste shows how much he has absorbed Monk's music, while not attempting to copy Monk, but rather interpret the composition in his own style. After his piano introduction, the horns come in with some hot trumpet followed by riveting sax from Pennicott and Bartley. As he says in his notes, the band is on fire here. The final song "Anatomy Of Angels" is a long-form composition that is a part of a suite inspired by the celestial context of humanity. The lengthiest track, it is a multi-dimensional performance that ranges from a genial swinging portion with a melodious trumpet to an intense, post-Coltrane hot segment. There is exhilarating blistering trumpet, followed by Bartley employing the higher registers of his sax, and Pennicott's exploiting the full range of the tenor sax especially the lower registers. It is an enthralling close to this superb Jon Batiste recording.
I received a download to review from a publicist. This review originally appeared in the September-October 2019 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 386). Here Jon Batiste backs Corinne Bailey Rae on the Ray Noble classic "The Very Thought of You."
This is a preview of this year's DC Jazz Festival that I wrote up for the May-June 2019 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 383). The Festival has its prelude next week with free programs at the Phillips Collection Museum on Saturday and Sunday June 1 and 2. Since I wrote this there has been additional information on acts performing and the cheduloe for clubs and more. As I state at the bottom of this preview, I recommend you check their wonderful website (dcjazzfest.org).
Celebrating its 15th year in the District of Columbia, the Dc Jazz Festival will present hundreds of Jazz artists at venues throughout the District of Columbia including The Wharf in Southwest DC, the Kennedy Center, Hamilton Live, City Winery, the Phillips Collection, clubs, and theaters. The Festival runs from June 9 to June 16.
Jose James
Among the signature events of the Festival will be "DC JazzFest at The Wharf" presented by Events DC (June 14-16) featuring four main stages. Artists appearing will include: Snarky Puppy, Lean on Me: Jose James Celebrates Bill Withers, Jon Batiste & Stay Human, Brass-A-Holics, Michael Franks, Joshua Redman Quartet with Aaron Goldberg, Reuben Rogers & Gregory Hutchinson, Joey Alexander Trio, Ralph Peterson & GenNext Big Band (honoring the Art Blakey Centennial), 2018 DCJazzPrix winning band Cornerstore, Tarus Mateen, and an International Jazz Stage featuring saxophonist Evan Harris (Australia), El Violin Latino (Luxembourg), Witness Matlou Trio (South Africa), with much more. The performances by Snarky Puppy and Jose James are a ticketed event at the Anthem on Friday, June 14 and the performances by Jon Batiste & Stay Human, and The Brassaholics is another ticketed event at The Anthem on Saturday, June 15. The other performances on stages at The Wharf are free.
Snarky Puppy
The Kennedy Center will be hosting several events at this year's Festival. The free Millennium Stage performances during the Festival June 9-16 will celebrate the centennial of Nat King Cole and feature singing piano players in the Cole tradition. On June 9 the Festival will present "Celebrating Randy Weston" at the Kennedy Center. It will feature pianists Marc Cary, and Rodney Kendrick joined by three members of Weston’s acclaimed African Rhythms band: bassist Alex Blake, saxophonist TK Blue, and African percussionist Neil Clarke. Festival Musical Director Willard Jenkins stated "“I had the distinct honor of co-writing Randy Weston’s autobiography, African Rhythms, and can guarantee the evening will be a joyous celebration of his rich, peerless artistry." On June 16, the Festival presents "Great Masters of Jazz, the final party of the 15th Anniversary DC JazzFest presented by Events DC. It will be a musical celebration of the life and work of the iconic legend Quincy Jones; the highly influential song stylist Nancy Wilson; the trailblazing trumpeter-bandleader Roy Hargrove, and DC’s own peerless pianist-vocalist Shirley Horn, in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. Featured performers and presenters include the Roy Hargrove Big Band, Patti Austin, Justin Kauflin, Adam Clayton Powell III, Congressman John Lewis, Angela Stribling, Sharón Clark, and a raft of very special guests to be announced.
Sharón Clark
Among clubs presenting performances during the Festival, The Hamilton Live kicks off the first weekend with the Anat Cohen Quartet (Friday, June 7); and the celebrated Ethiopian pianist-accordionist-bandleader Hailu Mergia (Sunday, June 9), serving up African Jazz meets Afro-Pop. City Winery kicks off their DC JazzFest dates with the compelling crossover sounds of SPAGA (Wednesday, June 12), the latest project from the fertile mind of pianist Aron Magner. Trinidadian trumpeter, Etienne Charles Creole Soul brings his striking, island-proud, big fun-inspiring sounds on Thursday, June 13.
Anat Cohen
These venues are part of the annual "Jazz in the ‘Hoods Presented by Events DC" (June 6-16) where jazz takes over the district in 20+ neighborhoods with presentations curated by Jazz in The Hoods partners. Artists and schedule will be on the Festival website. DC JazzFest presents renowned artists in settings throughout the capital city. The artsy H Street NE community hosts performances in the Atlas Performing Arts Center and Gallery O/H with Mr. Henry's nearby on Capitol Hill offering jazz and good neighborhood conversation. In Southeast's historic and artsy Anacostia, performances are offered through the East River JAZZFest including Anacostia's Busboys and Poets and Anacostia Playhouse; and Ivy City, a tiny Northeast enclave experiencing a renaissance, includes City Winery and Ivy City Smokehouse on the schedule. Lively, diverse and laid-back, Northwest DC is home to the Takoma, Dupont Circle, Downtown, Foggy Bottom, Georgetown, Logan Circle, Van Ness, and U Street neighborhoods with a plethora of diverse venues including The Hamilton Live, Ben's Next Door, Ashbury United Methodist Church, Kreeger Museum, Brixton, Eaton Workshop, Sotto, Twins Jazz, UDC, Acadia Foods and Wine, Franklin Park, and Rhizome.
Ralph Peterson & GenNext Big Band
A prelude to the Festival, "Jazz ‘n Families Fun Days" (Prelude Weekend, June 1-2) is held in partnership with The Phillips Collection, this celebrates jazz and the visual arts with performances by more than a dozen regional artists and rising star ensembles.
The DC Jazz Festival presents world-renowned and emerging artists in celebration of jazz; unify diverse communities and enable connections between artists and audiences; advance jazz and music education with exciting, adventurous and diverse musical experiences for all ages and backgrounds; shine the spotlight on DC-based jazz musicians; and highlight DC as a premier cultural destination. Its signature programs are the annual DC JazzFest, now in its 15th year with 150 performances in 40 venues including Jazz in the Hoods and DC JazzFest at The Wharf; the year-round DCJF Music Education Program in partnership with DC public and charter schools; the Charlies Fishman Artist Embassy Series; and DCJazzPrix, and an international band competition. The DC Jazz Festival won the 2018 DC Mayor’s Arts Award for Excellence on Creative Industries. In 2015, The New York Times named DC JazzFest one of “50 Essential Summer Festivals.”
For more information including more on performers and schedules, and visitors information visit dcjazzfest.org. One can follow the Festival on social media. Keep up with the DCJF: Twitter: @dcjazzfest; Facebook: facebook.com/dcjazzfest; Instagram: @dcjazzfest.
Posts
