Here is an interesting artist that's new to me, and I wanted to share his music.
Jon Batiste is a musician Rok just introduced me to. From the first notes he played, I knew he was from Louisiana, with out knowing anything else about him.
Here's his bio https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Batiste
This is the tune Rok submitted;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCC1EEmJlo4
It was one I will eagerly add to my collection. I thought I would share this with other music lovers seeking new artists.
266 responses Add your response
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orpheus10"No Rok, the cities epitomize the breakdown of the lower middle class economically; Black people in the cities are just in the spotlight. Lower middle class rural Whites are overdosing and finding other ways to do themselves in because they can't make a living." The whole USA is just about falling apart isn't it? |
Anyone remember the TV series 'The Prisoner". I think it was English made. He was always searching for #1, but never got closer than the 'New #2'. I present audiophile's new #2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRMR9JZ1m0s Cheers btw, #1 turned out to be a room full of chimps. |
I thought I told you to lay off that Kool-aid. Thugs commit crime because it’s easier than working. Thugs are not trying to ’Earn a Living’. You think they rob people and businesses, and sell drugs because the baby needs milk? That’s almost laughable. Putting aside for a moment that they give less than a damn about all their illegitimate kids. Half of Central America in at our southern border trying to get into the USA. Those that make it in, are working within a couple of days. hmmmmmmmmmm. You do the math. When the southern economy changed with the advent of mechanical cotton pickers, people left and headed north to get work. When jobs were lost in the north, they didn’t follow the new work, they went on welfare. And there they sit to this day. Cheers |
Thank you Acman for "Jelly Roll Martin". I will continue with "King Porter Stomp"; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8_2ISGOIjU This music is language of the soul; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxz9eZ1Aons |
Rok, I see things in a "cause effect" manner, or chain of events. Black people were relatively prosperous in St. Louis in the 60's, and most of the 70's. The decline began in the 80's, and has continued into the present. "They, cities, epitomize the break down of the Black family." No Rok, the cities epitomize the breakdown of the lower middle class economically; Black people in the cities are just in the spotlight. Lower middle class rural Whites are overdosing and finding other ways to do themselves in because they can't make a living. They are quietly vanishing. The biggest and surest occupation in the cities is selling dope, because they need dope to cope, which also results in the cause of 90% of the murders. It's all about what economic class you're in, not the color of your skin. Rich Black people certainly don't have those problems, but poor white people have the same problems as Blacks in the cities; it just gives them, and the media a feeling of superiority over Blacks in the city who are in the spotlight of social deterioration. Fox TV hits the roof any time you mention "class"; that's because all of them are millionaires, and "class" will put the spotlight on how the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. Poverty is the root cause of criminality; there are Black people living in the richest neighborhoods in St. Louis, although a very small %, they don't commit crimes? Which brings me to the question, "Why is there almost 0% crime in rich communities, on the City limits of St. Louis?" If all those rich people were Black, there would still be almost 0% crime there. I worked downtown St. Louis through the 70's and part of the 80's; rode a bus back and forth to work everyday through that neighborhood where he started off the tour. There were people walking and kids playing on those very sidewalks which are now empty. St. Louis was paradise for me; plenty of neighborhood "bistro's"; too close to home to get a DWI; plus that, you could even walk if you couldn't drive. In one word, what took St. Louis down was "JOBS"; when the going got rough, the tough got going and left, leaving the majority of neighborhoods to those least able to fend for themselves, and crime was for some, the only viable way to make a living. |
*****Rok, I noticed you didn't comment on the tour of St. Louis; did you miss it?***** No I didn't. I remember driving thru St Louis back in 1975. I-70 I believe. I drove from Ft Carson, Colorado to Ft Lee Virginia. In my 1972 Datsun 240z. Those were the days. St Louis has suffered the fate of all large cities. Too many people that don't have the education or skills to succeed in big cities. Too many boys without fathers. Too much dependence on welfare. I visited Independence, Mo during college. It seemed to be a nice place. I am sure St Louis was a nicer place when you lived there. They, cities, epitomize the break down of the Black family. I put St Louis in the same class as New Orleans and Memphis. Once great cities on the Mississippi river, but now pass their prime. Greenville, Ms also. Cheers Everyone should drive I-70 across Kansas. |
Jelly Roll Morton, I'm sure you have heard of him, said, Jazz is 'a way of playing music'. i.e. The following were NOT Jazz tunes when written, but they are in these examples: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWG2dsXV5HI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsz6TE6t7-A You will know Jazz when you hear it. Cheers |
Since this thread is about all things New Orleans, I waited for 17 hours for someone else to chime in and give you a thumbs up on Wynton, but it didn't happen; maybe you should put an add in a local newspaper to tell them about this thread. No one can give a "strict definition" of jazz, and anyone who plays what they have determined is a strict definition of jazz will sound old fashioned, to say the least. All those names you gave are like "steak and potatoes", it's good, but not everyday; although Mingus is the one exception I would make, that's because he's somebody different everyday. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdQuL1Vyy04 |
More outdated Jazz. I know it’s awful, but please try to listen to it anyway. These poor folks thought they were playing timeless music, little did they know it would be ’dated’ so soon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8Kft3w-7DI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQBjD06a6l8 Cheers not dated here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nym81fzg-To |
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There never has, and there never will be a strict definition of "jazz". Wynton has attempted to say, this is jazz, but that is not jazz; it won't work.***** Wynton speaks truth. Don't like it, too bad. ***** While what was presented is a good example of "New Orleans Jazz", it does not stand up for repeated listens in my opinion; it was dated when I was born, and that was a long time ago.***** Other 'dated' music / musicians: Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Ellington, Mingus, Bolden, Armstrong, Miles, Elvis, Trane, Morgan, Sinatra, Adderley, Motown, etc......... you get the drift. You seem to like 'improvised music', if it can be called music, but not Jazz. Jazz is not a throw-a-way music. It never gets old or dated. And music played by a guy in clown clothing, playing tunes with third world names, does not make it good music, in fact, most often the opposite is true. Music is music and noise is noise. As the good book says: No Blues, No Jazz. Know Blues, Know Jazz. Cheers |
There never has, and there never will be a strict definition of "jazz". Wynton has attempted to say, this is jazz, but that is not jazz; it won't work. While what was presented is a good example of "New Orleans Jazz", it does not stand up for repeated listens in my opinion; it was dated when I was born, and that was a long time ago. There have been more artists with different styles of jazz than I can count since that time. Here is one of them; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BgZnyxD-bk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ltqlGdxJIo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fC4hCn9411k&list=PLDiwark-Pr9o05stcwcQBOeiZrNKSO0-v&index=3 |
Today’s Listen: Wynton Marsalis Septet -- THE NEW ORLEANS FUNCTION https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKHM53iv2VI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nayYQXtddXE Cheers |
Nikonola, you have answered many questions I had about New Orleans; like what makes it so different from any other city. In every city I've ever been to, people "retreat" from one another; they build nice decks in the back for privacy. They even ignore the gun fire like in a war zone in the inner city. That gunfire is not people getting shot, but gangs warning other gangs not to come on their "turf"; it's kind of like animals peeing on trees. I like the way people in New Orleans sit on the "front porch" where they can engage with one another; after all there's nothing they can do about the gigantic problems we are confronted with, might as well drink and be merry; that's what makes New Orleans so unique, and is one of the reasons why those who are born there prefer to stay there. Thanks. |
Orpheus, though Mathew McConaughey is not from New Orleans, this is why so many local love this city. Even people that live in Louisiana but not in New Orleans claim this city. https://youtu.be/AMFnOy_BEcM Saturday night I sat in my porch in this heat with a few neighbors drinking bourbon and listening to music |
Rok, here's a tour of St. Louis, where I used to live, and loved it when I lived there 20 years ago; it's where I was born. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TEi0nJP5BE |
The first time I heard "Ode To Billy Joe", I was crossing a bridge in Mississippi in my brand new "Duece" (Electra 225), and I was sure it was the Tallahatchie Bridge, but since I was coming into Hattiesburg, as I discovered much later, that was not it. I have never heard a version of this song I didn't like; I wonder if it's because I was so busy spending my misspent youth. I wish I could spend all over again? Gene Harris can make anything sound good. For old time sake here is the original; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nv33eaygVDQ |
Today's Listen: Gene Harris -- INSTANT PARTY A compilation of some of his party music. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0RCdSKogeI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOFncukRGUQ Cheers |
I'm still getting into New Orleans culture because it's new to me. Right now I'm fascinated by "Second Lines"; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpKiuVVXXeA&t=14s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EG6KH905cGU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HXFzkX8sOY Since I'm not a native of NOLA, I'm sure any one who is, can find "Second Lines" better than what I posted. Please join in. |
Here is the Doctor John whose ways our Dr. John adopted, and got his ways; http://www.conjuredoctors.com/dr-john-montanee.html |
More good music for a Sunday evening; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmRkZeGFONg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmm9u8dPU4A |
I'll just have to pretend not to see that hat. While there have been a number of good female vocalists to come along, he's the only outstanding male vocalist to come along in quite some time. To put something special in "Merry Christmas Baby", a song that's been sung by all the best male vocalists since God knows when, is quite a feat. Cécile McLorin Salvant is just so unique; she adds a new and different twist to whatever she sings. As many times as I've heard that tune, not once was it in church; unless I was at the church of good times, but I'm sure reverend Smith's "Sermon" has redeeming qualities. |
For those of you like the OP, that are too lazy to go to Church. Mr Smith will bring Church to you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3X5J_wGHrw Amen |
He has a good voice, but you are correct, that hat has to go. My favorite: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBt9DQJOO-4 Cheers btw: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnshBIuu97Q |
More important than the instrument is the musician playing it. When any new musician comes along on any instrument, and he's good enough to be compared to all the greats before him, he's good. While I heard of "Gregory Porter", since male vocalist wasn't a niche in my collection that I was trying to fill, I didn't pay much attention; and besides, how could somebody who dressed like that sing? What possessed him to wear that hat, it was a mistake; I just knew that the next time I saw him, he would have corrected it. Well, the next time I saw him, he still had on that goofy looking hat. Hat or no hat, it's time to listen and hear whether or not he can sing. This guy can sing, when I compare him to all the great male vocalists that went before him, he compares to the best. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFsChbwsbmo I like this, but no matter what he sings, he sounds good; you can hear his mastery of music, and know that he has a lot of formal education. |
Gee, thanks for the warm welcome; and don’t worry.... **** Listening to Trane, Bird, or Miles, playing solo would be cruel and unusual. **** For you. That explains much. Enjoy. Cruel and unusual punishment? : https://youtu.be/qPCBqSy3lwk |
AAUGH !!!!!!!!!!! Not THE FROGMAN ! Just when we thought it was safe to talk about jazz. AAUGH !!!! As usual you people are not thinking about it the right way. The question was the most important instrument in Jazz. Not in it's development or it's history. I took that to mean most important TODAY. If I were to say, we can have Jazz, but you can only have one instrument to play it on. Human voice not counted. Which instrument would that be? Listening to Trane, Bird, or Miles, playing solo would be cruel and unusual. After a while. :) The most important does not mean the most popular. Cheers |
In Jazz, designating any one instrument as “the most important” is, at best, pointless. Just as pointless as designating any one player on any given instrument as “the best”. At worst, it belies a lack of appreciation for some of the basics and nuances of the art form; IMO. In an art form in which individuality is a key aspect of true excellence the idea of “best” is like saying that Granny Smith apples are the “best” apples. There may be a best Granny Smith, but it doesn’t make that the best of all apples. Try saying that to someone that loves Honey Crisp apples instead! Moving on to bananas 😊: No instrument in Jazz is “the most important”. First, piano was not the first harmony instrument to gain widespread use in (early) Jazz ensembles; the banjo was. Going even further back in the birth of Jazz, it was the guitar in the blues that was the most common harmony instrument. So, what makes an instrument “important”? Seems to me that, once again, it is what is done with it in the sense of how it innovated and contributed to the development of style in jazz. As such, ANY instrument can, and many did, accomplish that. Some of the best and most innovative Jazz was played by, for instance, Sonny Rollins in his piano-less trio recordings. And, how does one reconcile the notion with the fact that a relative minority of the greatest musicians in jazz played piano? Thanks for the New Orleans clips. A lot of good stuff. |
But on the serious side, my ears are way out of whack compared to the experts when it comes to piano. As an example Cecil Taylor, and Andrew Hill are very highly rated pianists that I could live without an abundance of them in my collection, maybe you have a different view. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EstPgi4eMe4 https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=andrew+hill+spiral |
Louis Armstrong, Charley Parker, and Dizzy Gillespie, are three of the most renowned names in jazz; two trumpets and one sax, no piano. We hear of "Concert pianists", but that's in another Genre of music. I like long piano solos, but that's as far as it goes. A solo piano all night long grates on my ears; eventually they begin to sound like "Schroeder"; that's the kid with the toy piano in Peanuts. Your ears are specially tuned to pianos, which is why you like them so much. My ears are more tuned to sax and trumpet. That being said, I wouldn't even want to hear a solo sax or trumpet all night long, no matter who played it. It just boils down to; "Different strokes for different folks". |
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You must be hung up on European heritage.***** I make be hung up on many things, European heritage ain't one of them. The correct answer is the piano. It is more expressive than trumpet or sax. I have never seen anyone, save classical players, play trumpet or sax on stage by themselves. Those instruments are not expressive enough by themselves. They need support. Remember, we are speaking of Jazz. Cheers |
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I'll never understand the Wynton critics. Why is creativity the measure?***** His critics are mostly adherents of what is called 'modern' or 'contemporary' Jazz. In this sort of 'Jazz', the music is whatever the player says it is. If you don't get it, then something is wrong with you. Sort of like the Emperor's clothes. That means sounds, I won't call it music, devoid of blues, and emotional feeling of any kind. The complete antithesis of the music that started in New Orleans. Juilliard and Berklee are their holy sites. The students from these places couldn't find New Orleans or Mississippi with an Atlas. Wynton is on the other side of this cultural war. The fate of Jazz as we know it is at stake. Cheers |
Piano is in no way the most important jazz instrument. You must be hung up on European heritage. Jazz and blues are founded in "vocal" expression emanating from the human soul. Wind and brass instruments are perfect for "singing" or "crying out" through a musical instrument. Piano is percussive. Fantastic jazz can (and has) been created on piano. But sax, trumpet, clarinet are the most important - they allow the inner voice to pour forth much like singing. The players literally sing through the instrument. |
Cuba Disco: Nice tunes and a pretty good singer. I think the guys around her were the pros, the ’Orchestra’ seemed to be for show. They didn’t contribute too much. Seemed awful young. A group that large should have had more presence and volume. Cuba does seem to spend a lot of effort on their young people. Gotta get them beholding to the regime early and often. Nice clip. Cheers |
Most people believe the trumpet is the most important instrument in jazz, followed by the sax. Dizzy Gillespie, a well known trumpet player, was a disciple of Roy Eldridge; South Carolina-born Dizzy was also a crucial figure in the birth of Latin jazz, and famed for his big band Afro-Cuban fusion sound. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhD_KJpRwAY |
Rok, I just stumbled upon something super hot; what do you think? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAySRiAIDXI |
I will forever be in love with Pannonica, and all jazz tunes with "Nica" in the title. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwvuGJPQBNw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDrxzKYdwsA |