classical music

Jon Batiste Updates Some Of Beethoven’s Most Iconic Compositions On “Beethoven Blues”

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Jon Batiste is a singer, songwriter, and overall, just a musician’s musician. The Louisiana native has worked with some of the biggest in the biz as well from Beyonce to Lana Del Rey, Lil Wayne, A$AP Rocky, and more. However, what the bandleader of Stay Human is also really good at is playing the piano. After all, he did go to school at the world-renowned institution known as Juilliard School. The reason we bring this up is because Jon Batiste is deploying this talent onto a brand-new endeavor, Beethoven Blues. Just like the title suggests, he’s putting a blues and jazz spin on multiple iconic compositions by the German-born icon.

So why did Batiste decide to remake such historic pieces of art? To put it simply, they were “due for an update.” He explains further with The Hollywood Reporter, “Jazz music has a lot of spontaneous composition, and early classical music also had a lot of spontaneous composition, yet its contemporary reality is so far away from that that you would imagine that jazz and classical music could never come together. And I find it to be a great thing that you can update it if you have the language and the ability and the craft to put them together. So, that’s why I thought, why not do it?” In our opinion, he would have made Beethoven pretty proud, and this looks to be just the first full piano/instrumental album for now. Hopefully, we get to hear him transform other historical pieces. But check out Beethoven Blues with the links below and listen to a master at work.

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Beethoven Blues – Jon Batiste

Beethoven Blues Tracklist:

  1. Für Elise – Batiste
  2. Symphony No. 5 Stomp
  3. Moonlight Sonata Blues
  4. Dusklight Movement
  5. 7th Symphony Elegy
  6. American Symphony Theme
  7. Ode To Joyful
  8. 5th Symphony In Congo Square
  9. Waldstein Wabble
  10. Life Of Ludwig
  11. Für Elise – Reverie

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RZA Shocks Fans With Classical Music Album, “A Ballet Through Mud”

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RZA has gone in a new direction with his latest album, A Ballet Through Mud, which sees him collaborating with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra as led by Christopher Dragon. Rather than a hip-hop release, RZA taps into the genre of classical music for the project. “I found my old book of lyrics that were written from the age 14 to 19, and I wanted to find a way to put music to it, so I started that as the foundation, storytelling in a way that was not just confounded to the lyrics,” he told BET of the decision. “It was almost like the story started lyrically, and then I wanted to express it without having to say anything.”

Speaking with PEOPLE for a new interview, RZA also revealed that Andre 3000’s recent flute album, New Blue Sun, served as an inspiration for his new project. He began by recalling meeting up with the legendary rapper during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We both talked about [our albums] and went on our way and, of course, he did it. He put [New Blue Sun] out,” RZA said. “And I think the beauty of his is that it didn’t take as many people to translate. That’s the glitch when you’re dealing with an orchestra of 60 people. But when his album came out, it just inspired me to keep going. Like, ‘Yo, I’m going to put mine out as well.’” Check out A Ballet Through Mud below. Be on the lookout for further updates on RZA on HotNewHipHop.

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RZA Switches Genres For New Album


Tracklist:

Aeolian Beauty
Clear Sky After Storm
A Ballet Through Mud
Winds From the West
Divine Intervention
Freedom of Movement
Soft Footsteps
Good Night 1st Movement
The Night Dances When You Least Expect It
Moving Meditation
The Lotus Arrives

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