Beethoven Blues

Jon Batiste

Released on 11/15/24 by Beethoven Blues
Main artists: Jon Batiste
Genre: Classical

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It’s an unbelievable story: but in 1822, just before his death and after having been deaf for over twenty years, Beethoven might have inadvertently invented boogie-woogie! In any case, musicologists and other score readers agree: his Sonata No. 32, Op. 111 swings with a rhythm that foreshadows the golden age of ragtime and boogie-woogie by nearly a century. The many later connections between classical music and jazz (and further on, rock) are well-documented, and even though Chuck Berry famously asked Beethoven to make room for rock and roll on “Roll Over Beethoven” in 1955, pop music has ended up circling back to old Ludwig, who, during his lifetime, composed a number of hits that we still find ourselves humming along to today. The proof lies in Jon Batiste. This star of American contemporary music has dedicated an entire solo piano album to Beethoven covers– including the infamous “Fifth Symphony” and “Für Elise.” Of course, he adds a touch of the blues, inherited from the New Orleans music culture he was born into (along with an entire dynasty of famous musicians before him). It’s atmospheric, with notes that ebb and flow, as well as misstepping, accelerating rhythms, all of it done with great finesse. There’s nothing forced or caricatural in his interpretations. Jon Batiste studied classical music when he was younger, cultivating a deep appreciation for and intimate knowledge of the genre. This gives meaning to a project that could have become quite tacky in the hands of a less skilled pianist. Instead, Beethoven Blues is an elevated, pure, nuanced homage that blends tradition with innovation, complete of course with a touch of boogie-woogie. © Stéphane Deschamps/Qobuz

Beethoven Blues

Jon Batiste

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Für Elise - Batiste