Marsalis Music Honors Alvin Batiste

Alvin Batiste | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 10, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Marsalis Music
• ASIN: B000ND91TA
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #315,828 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Important Treasure, September 26, 2007

By 

Cheryl L. Keyes (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Marsalis Music Honors Alvin Batiste (Audio CD)

I find this CD exemplary of the creative vision and musical genius of Alvin Batiste, who has been dubbed the "Mozart of New Orleans." Batiste is accompanied by a vibrant rhythm section--Lawrence Fields on piano, Ricardo Rodriquez on bass, Russell Malone on guitar, and Herlin Riley on drums. With his use of blues and a progressive improvisational style, Alvin Batiste joins the ranks of the great jazz improvisers of all time--from Charlie Parker to John Coltrane. As a pioneer of the New Orleans classic jazz clarinet tradition, Marsalis Music Honors Alvin Batiste is a must own CD. It is uniquely Alvin Batiste at his finest. The CD begins with "Clean Air" by Batiste followed by "I Wonder Where Our Love Has Gone" by Buddy Johnson. Batiste unravels Johnson's classic by wailing and moaning the blues, a trademark of his signature clarinet sound. Track three is one of my favorites. Name after his grandson, "Bumps" is certainly a clear example of what Jelly Roll Morton once observed about New Orleans jazz as having a Spanish tinge to it. As such, "Bumps" is a fusion of Cuban-based rhythms, southern Louisiana blues, and modal jazz. Speaking of collaboration, another favorite of mine is Batiste's "My Life is a Tree" with lyrics written by his wife, Edith. The essence and wisdom of "My Life is a Tree" s beautifully interpreted by the vocalist Edward Perkins, who reminds me of a cross between Leon Thomas and Oscar Brown, Jr. Other compositions by Batiste include track nine, "Bat Trad" which pays respect to one of his idols, Charlie Parker. The song signifies on "Cherokee" a jazz standard that only the masters whip through chord changes as Parker did and as Batiste does here. The final track closes with another one of Batiste's compositions "Salty Dogs". What I like about this piece is its unique blues structure, second-line feel, and the addition of Perkins on vocals and Branford Marsalis on soprano sax. It's typical New Orleans--funky and spicy! Essentially, this CD project reflects two generations of New Orleans wind players--Alvin Batiste and Branford Marsalis. But above all, the CD unfolds as a touching tribute to one of New Orleans legends, Alvin Batiste (1932-2007).