4/5
For The World.
Taylor Swift. Billie Eilish. All of music's most mainstream moving artists couldn't beat the maestro. The former 'Late Show With Stephen Colbert' bandleader Jon Batiste holds the Grammy family honour for the Best Album of 2022. Now 'We Are' in luck, as the American cross-genre musician, Oscar and BAFTA winning composer (Pixar's 'Soul' of Jamie Foxx) is back with some 'World Music Radio' for you to tune into...and maybe another Grammy to add to the trophy cabinet. This dear Jon has worked with everybody from Stevie Wonder, Prince, Lenny Kravitz, Willie Nelson and Lana Del Rey amongst countless others. But nothing compares to the band of instruments he brings to bear here (see above) for the world. You ready for another Batiste work of art?
The music director of The Atlantic and Creative Director of Harlem's National Jazz Museum headlines a New Music Friday for your NPR headphones that features a big, brooding album from 'Take Me To Church's' Hozier ('Unreal Unearth') following his March EP, 'Eat Your Young'. Not to mention a new EP, birthed from the independent artistry of R&B queen Ciara ('CiCi'), following the announcement of expecting of her fourth baby with NFL Denver Broncos star QB Russell Wilson. Or NBA superstar Damian Lillard capping off the Portland Trail Blazer superstars trade-rumoured whirlwind of an off-season with his Dame D.OL.L.A. rapping alter-ego's new album 'Don Dolla'. Now, this seventh seal from Batiste brings the Verve and Interscope of the world. Not forgetting classic collaborations with JID, NewJeans, Camilo, Jon Bellion, Fireboy DML, Kenny G, Lil' 'Wayne (like Dame), Leigh-Anne and Lana Del Rey once again. A classic concept record going interstellar like McConaughey with the central character Billy Bob Bo in the cosmos.
'Hello Billy Bob' indeed. "Purifying the airwaves." This album like the singles is 'Calling Your Name' (call me by it) in a raw world, with some refreshing 'Drink Water' (featuring Jon Bellion and Fireboy DML), without the red, or blue pill in this matrix. All to, "open your heart and stretch your mind, expanding your vision of popular art" as Batiste says it best. All for the 'Raindance' with Native Soul that you can see clearly, now you know what's gone. 'My Heart' is beautiful from Catalonia, Spain. Just like Rita Payés' vivid vocals. It's enough to 'Worship' like that wonderful, heaven sent track you'll put two hands together for. Or the JID, New Jeans and Camilo cameo that tells you to 'Be Who You Are'. With Weezy F. Baby on 'Uneasy', Jon please sings it for his baby, "They call out, “Mercy, Mercy, Marcy Me”/Clinton and Canarsie/Be like (Skoo-skoo, Skoo-koo)/They call out Nostradamus, Malcolm, Marvin saw What’s Going On/I know the left and the right talkin’ two different stories (Ooh, ooh, ooh, oh)/I know I'm strong in this life, but I still tuck my chain", over a studio sound video. Tha Carter adding his own guitar to this rocking genre mash-up.
Radio playing to the DJ, floating like a 'Butterfly' over piano that moves like Muhammed Ali as you turn out the lights and make it to bed, "cherry plum and chewing gum." Kenny G brings the sexy sax to 'Clair De Lune' for an album that's an eclectic mix of (hair)cuts like the new Hozier piece. Taking you to all sorts of churches in the wild with reckless, beautiful and bountiful abandon. The '17th Ward Prelude' introduces you to more as you 'CALL NOW' on '504-305-8269' with Michael Batiste for the family. Lifting you out of this real world funk like Prince. Classic like the cheers of 'Chassol' the 'BOOM FOR REAL' is exactly that, in all caps. But it's the 'White Space' that lets you make your mark like a blank space, letter to you like Laker statement jersey for the city. Inviting you to leave a legacy with your own story, singing, "Open wide, open, open, close your eyes and see/That you’re more than you will be." Amen, everybody. The 'Master Power' telling us "From the concrete grew a flower/Don’t forget about your master power/She won’t bow, and he won’t cower/Henrietta got a master power/ Nicholas and Daniel, Sara and Blue/In their grimy hour, there’s a master power", until everybody is free.
We could be Bowie like 'Heroes' with the 'Movement '18'. 'Running Away' like The Pharcyde with the wind of Leigh-Anne. Devoting, "You've got a friend, a lover, a friend, a lover in me/Right next to you, right next to you is where I'll always be/I'll keep on, keep on talkin' with ya, my friend/So keep goin', 'cause I'ma stay with ya until the end." All before a 'Life Lesson' with Lana Del Rey closes proceedings. Their second collaboration this year, after their 'Candy Necklace' that wrapped around the amazing 'Did You Know That There's A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd' album from Lana, this March gone. Saving the best of the best for last as Del Rey lights up with the illuminating, "I read an article about a star who said that standing / In the shadow of her husband felt so dark / Reminded me of you and I because / That’s very much the way our story was." As Jon prays, "It’s like a dream you know what I mean/Things were peachy keen/This very second/And I would reckon/Now you know/ Amen." If you feel on your knees, in this world, right now. Lord, this is the faith you need. 'Wherever You Are', this one's for you on the frequency of infinity. 'Goodbye, Billy Bob', it's been a pleasure. From the world. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Playlist Picks: 'Calling Your Name', 'Uneasy (Feat Lil' Wayne)', 'Life Lesson (Feat. Lana Del Rey)'.
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