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A14 PEOPLE / ARTS
Thursday 17 augusT 2023

Jon Batiste goes galaxy-building with ambitious new album ‘World

Music Radio’

By MARK KENNEDY Water, so vital to the plan-
AP Entertainment Writer et and so dangerous to
NEW YORK (AP) — How do his hometown of New Or-
you top a five-time Gram- leans, is a theme from the
my Award-winning album super pop of “Drink Water”
that had critics applauding featuring Jon Bellion and
its rich blend of R&B, hip- Fireboy DML to the exu-
hop, swing, jazz and pop? berant “Raindance” to the
If you’re Jon Batiste, you go restrained, distorted ballad
even higher and wider. “White Space,” where he
The singer-songwriter and sings “Saved in the water/
multi-instrumentalist returns I’m saved.”
this month two years af- It was all a struggle at first.
ter his triumphant album The singer-songwriter had
“We Are” with the complex amassed a massive 3 1/2
“World Music Radio,” a col- hours of new music but
lection he calls an “expan- wasn’t able to figure out a
sive, genre-less, popular through-line. Its working title
music concept record.” was “World Music.”
“World Music Radio” is con- “It wasn’t about making
ceived like a timeless radio a world music album, but
broadcast from a sort of in- using that as a prompt
terstellar DJ, gradually tak- because it’s really a hor-
ing the listener from a hip- rendous term, if you think
hop, pop and dance party Jon Batiste performs at the Maple Leaf Bar in New Orleans on May 2, 2023. about it for many reasons,”
to soul, Latin, folk and gos- Associated Press he says. “I went to bed kind
pel. It’s like moving from a of discouraged, not really
rave to church. Batiste says. a Duke Ellington vocal clip, today,” he says. having the sense of what it
“I wanted to have that ef- “World Music Radio,” out the Muslim call to prayer The album begins with a sal- was.” That’s when an odd
fect where you’re traveling Friday, isn’t just a sonic trip, and a Kenny G sax solo. utation “Hello everybody, muse visited. Batiste had
from Saturday night to Sun- it’s also a mesmerizing way “For me, playing is always a I’m Billy Bob Bo Bob” as Ba- read about an unusual
day morning and you’re to dial into Batiste’s eclec- form of dreaming. And I’m tiste sets the listener up for a radio signal that some at-
slowly moving towards this tic and wide musicality, constantly creating based spin of Earth’s sounds, from tribute to a being called
state of bliss, in this state of with songs switching sounds on thoughts or conversa- the Afropop of “Be Who B4, hence Billy Bob Bo Bob.
feeling this ultimate human- midway and lyrics layered tions that I’ve had, words You Are,” Johnny Cash-like What “World Music” was
ism and togetherness with with symbolisms and mul- that have resonated with “Master Power” to the Mi- missing, he realized, was
everyone and feeling con- tiple languages seeping me or people who have chael Jackson-esque “Call a DJ. He worked feverishly
nected to the universe,” out. Few albums can boast helped me to be who I am Now (504-305-8269).” through the night.q

On ‘My Love of Country,’ Teddy Thompson shows affection for

Nashville classics

By STEVEN WINE Tonk Blues” in their 1970s Among those contribut-
Associated Press stage shows. ing backing vocals are
Teddy Thompson began Their son has long been Vince Gill, Rodney Crow-
a recent concert by sing- partial to classic country, ell and Aoife O’Donovan.
ing George Jones ‘ 1972 hit and his zeal for the peal of Producer David Mansfield
“A Picture of Me (Without a pedal steel and man- provides subtle support on
You),” and smiled as the dolin, and fiddle is evident multiple instruments while
crowd applauded. on “My Love of Country.” keeping the focus on the
“That’s a new song I just Thompson’s disciplined, lead singer.
wrote,” he joked. almost reverent interpre- Thompson finds a Scottish
Well, no. But Thompson tations shun showboating lilt in Buck Owens ‘ “Crying
puts his stamp on that tune in the vocals or arrange- Time,” makes octave leaps
and nine other classics on ments; his vibrant tenor is seem effortless on “I Fall
his latest project, an al- more than enough to make to Pieces,” and elsewhere
bum of covers: “My Love the songs shimmer. evokes Roy Orbison.
of Country.” Country music Most are weepers. They He saves his best for last:
is in Thompson’s DNA, even range from Patsy Cline a lovely version of “You
though he was born in Lon- tunes and the Charlie Don’t Know Me.” On the fi-
don. His parents, Richard Louvin hit “I Don’t Love You nal verse, Thompson climbs
and Linda Thompson, are Anymore” to more unpre- the scale but resists any
revered British folk rockers dictable selections, includ- temptation to let loose, his
This cover image released by Chalky Sounds shows “My Love who found room for such ing “I’ll Regret It All in the artful restraint somehow
of Country” by Teddy Thompson. Nashville standards as “To- Morning,” a drinking song making the moment more
Associated Press gether Again” and “Honky written by Teddy’s dad. moving.q