Jazzmeia Horn: Live from Jazz at Lincoln Center | JAZZ NIGHT IN AMERICA

For Jazzmeia Horn, this concert defined a moment. This was The Appel Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center, after all, one of the most prestigious stages in the America jazz circuit. "Not a lot of people get that opportunity," she reflected, not only to show up for herself and her art, but to act as a good steward of jazz music, an African American art form and legacy by which the idioms of today's industry, according to Horn, don't always reflect the culture of a specific people. She hand-picked an entirely Black and brown team from bandmates to to hair and makeup and even a hired backstage film crew, people she knew would share a common goal. "I was nit-picky on everything," Horn says. She even made sure everybody was well-fed backstage, so they could honor this music with the highest possible energy and focus.
Horn didn't know it at the time but this would be her last performance before the pandemic shuttered music venues around the world. Since then, she has been grateful for more time with her daughters; she recently took them to the beach. Horn finished a book, too. Due out in August, Through My Eyes: The Jazzmeia Horn Approach offers methods for singers to use their voices to sing as well as advocate for themselves. Her online teaching work has bloomed into a self-supported community of singers who offer tips and feedback through a private Facebook group, something by which she continually feels awestruck in a time when human-to-human connection has become somewhat nontraditional. She has also had time to reflect on her successes, from growing up in a poor family in Dallas, Texas, and moving to New York City for college to earning Grammy nominations for each of the full-length albums she's released so far. That's not to mention the countless accolades stemming from her most recent record and namesake for this concert: Love and Liberation. This concert was recorded on March 6th, 2020 at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City.
To learn more about Jazzmeia Horn, check out our radio episode delving into her upbringing in Dallas, her experiences in New York, and discussing her relationship to the jazz-vocal pantheon: www.npr.org/20...
SET LIST
1:13 - "Please Do Something" (Betty Carter)
9:00 - "Willow Weep For Me" (Billie Holiday)
20:48 - "I Thought About You" (Jimmy Van Heusen, Lyrics by Johnny Mercer)
30:03 - "Out The Window"
34:07 - "The Peacocks (A Timeless Place)" (Jimmy Rowles, Lyrics by Norma Winstone)
44:00 - "Searchin' "
49:36 - "Green Eyes" (Victor E. Cooke, James Jason Poyser & Erykah Badu)
58:24 - "When I Say"
1:02:47 - "Time"
1:07:04 - "Free Your Mind"
MUSICIANS
Jazzmeia Horn: bandleader, voice
Keith Brown: piano
Eric Wheeler: bass
Anwar Marshall: drums
Josh Evans: trumpet
Jaleel Shaw: alto saxophone
Alexandria Johnson: dance
Head to the Jazz Night in America homepage for more episodes, including our weekly radio show, full-length concert films and short video documentaries: www.npr.org/jaz...
---------------------
FOLLOW US!
Facebook: / jazznight
Twitter: / jazznight
Instagram: / jazznightinamerica

[@TimTamashiro]

Jazzmeia is the future of jazz. Bravo!

[@paulgibby6932]

I bet Nina Simone would love her

[@anthonycfletcher1232]

Jazzmeia Horn is a National and World Treasure! She should be called Jazzmeia Wonder !

[@DanieltheTruebadour]

Ms. Horn's intonation, in this most demanding and challenging of all vocal forms, is nothing short of breathtaking. She and her formidable pianist - playing without a chart - must be of one mind, his chording and voicings absolutely precise, her choice of pitching imaginative and, well, perfect. And they are.

[@danspahn8141]

I hear flats and sharps all over. What am I missing? Truly asking.

[@basielu]

@@danspahn8141 that was the _point_

[@eboyeman8457]

@@basielu she singing sharp and flat on purpose?

[@jamesdennis8290]

@@basielu Indeed, absolutely that WAS the point. Dan Spahn, you should go and listen to Betty Carter. I didn't think I would ever hear that kind of artistry again. From there let's see what innovations Jazzmeia will give us.

[@psychoelvis1358]

Hello Brian Griffin

[@michaelbrickley2443]

What amazingly talented people she has surrounded herself with...jazzbos, one and all....yikes....jazz is not dead, it’s surely alive

[@michaelbrickley2443]

@Storm November everyone’s a critic….

[@damienfromnyc]

I had the privilege of seeing Jazzmeia Horn live in Cincinnati, OH. She is an EXTREMELY gifted artist and, in my humble opinion, one of the best to ever hold space in the genre.

[@ava_alami]

Ms. Jazzmeia Horn... Thank you for your art

[@jurajbielik4221]

spontaneous, amazing, fascinating. Greetings from Slovakia, Europe

[@N9012-p6n]

Pianist looked like he wasn’t even playing lmao. Such and effortless look yet so clean.

[@d.shidon]

Not even thinking about. He’s got the routine down to a science.

[@jonathansera6134]

the way his eyes weren't looking at anything as he was soloing is like his brain was on an entirely different planet of jazz.

[@agamemnonpadar5706]

Saw Ella Fitzgerald, one time with Count Basie, two other times with Oscar Peterson and NHOP, in concert. Jazzmeia Horn is, in my humble opinion, of the same quality. What an amazing singer and entertainer. She is also as great as Dee Dee Bridgewater, but all in her own personal style. I am excited!

[@ThePhilpouch]

Great concert with so talented musicians!!! Many thanks Ms Jazzmeia, from Dordogne, France !!!!

[@BlackRootsAcademyOfSoul]

A whole other level of brilliance 👌🏿 Greetings from Uganda 🇺🇬👊🏿🖤

[@thomasoldham1507]

What a talent, Booker T. produces some of the best!

[@jones6119]

Been fortunate to see her several times and she is just a mega talent, her voice is like a prima ballerina, a 100 meter sprinter, a gymnast all in one.

[@laurentduby4510]

Nice compositions, beautiful creativity and interpretation !! Bravo! Just a remark about "Willow weep for me", the composer is Ann Ronell

[@KaleyBabezzz]

Can I just say that Out The Window is truly a masterpiece.

[@sofasaramago]

Great artist, Jazzmeia is incredible!!! 🎙🎙🎙

[@michaelbrickley2443]

Amen

[@armeggedon]

Blew me away! BEAUTIFUL ARTISTRY.

[@spydatrinidadian292]

my long lost sista!!! this was amazing i really enjoyed this. honest to God.

[@eldergeektromeo9868]

wholy moley! trio is HOT, and her voice is out of this world! Venue: perfect!

[@gaylenhalbert4391]

Yes. Thank you.

[@rasqueen1]

I would love to attend her concert 🎵

[@TshepangSekgobela-oh2ep]

i would love for her to come to south africa

[@rachelcabahug7581]

Yeah west indies version of scat beautiful indeed -- nice future lady of jazz applaud many fr another sacred space

[@1nikitawhite]

Beautiful concert! Free Your Mind is slamming!

[@nl_2652]

Her flexibility and range is astonishing. WOAH

[@stephenrimington5860]

Jazz. Legendary Singer. Awesome

[@JerryChristopherGuitar]

Great vocal, great musicians. Who the heck or the 11 people that gave this a thumbs down?

[@DanieltheTruebadour]

Those 11 probably listened to the first few seconds and went, 'You call that singing?' No, ignorant cretin. It's called SANGing. U go gurrrl!

[@djluche9710]

Fantástica Jazzmeia! Desde Argentina, rendidos a sus pies

[@PaulDawson-hi5yu]

I want to visit the USA again for its music....jazz has died in Sydney Australia

[@enky5563]

Me when I open the door and my leg is in the way 9:50

[@jeannettemuhanji966]

I love her . Great scatter .i love her

[@martinoestate4758]

The Peacocks is pure magic

[@tamertenor]

BRAVOOOOOOOO Jazzmeia 🌹🌺🌷

[@Monasisland]

At 9:50 she was parking her spaceship 🚀 👽

[@bobvir1861]

Pure wonder 💟🎶

[@alimzadezamanaev7789]

Невероятные ощущения, мурашки по коже от вокалистки. Джаз король музыки. Они короли

[@kaydilluh]

Her rendition of Green Eyes brings to tears EVERYTIME

[@rasqueen1]

Aww 🥰 agreed!!

[@Gabrisan-HaitiLegends]

I can relate.

[@abriauna]

My absolute favorite from her🔥

[@inklesswells]

I looked up Keith Brown the first time I saw this set and discovered he's the son of the underrated pianist/composer Donald Brown. So now I feel old.

[@michaelbrickley2443]

Feeling old is when many of the artists you loved as a youngster are passing over...it is what it is...just be grateful the torch has been passed...she is amazing

[@exjazzer]

Thank you!

[@caniplaydrumsforyou]

Jazzmeia is like the savior of jazz voice

[@michaelbrickley2443]

The torch has been passed...Ella, Csrmen, Sassy Sarah, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Cassandra Wilson....and now Jazzmeia. She is revelatory...definitely learned from all of the above and most assuredly, Ms. Betty Carter....

[@michaelwordlaw2605]

MADAME BETTY CARTER...IS HER KINDRED LAI LO LEI...LAI LO LEI... HER ARIES DIVA VIBRATO AND LYRIC CHARM IS SASSY THE DIVINE ONE...AND THE FULL RANGE SQUINTING HIGH SCAT AND "THAT BROAD" INTONATION ..IS THE LADY FITZ.... ANY REAL JAZZ PROGENY WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT

[@jbharms1]

Check out veronica swift as well.

[@caniplaydrumsforyou]

@@jbharms1 I like her too. Check out Lucy Yeghiazaryan

[@joykia3948]

Just love this !!!!!

[@jimsteele2008]

GLAMOUR!

[@OneRequiem123]

amazing!!!!

[@SletnamMusic]

Correction : WILLOW WEEP FOR ME was not written by Billie Holiday , but Ann Ronell in 1932 ... your songlist isn't correct !

[@shirley9529]

You are among a small audience who would li ives to find fault! So what if she said the wrong name of the composer! Some people are only about Criticizing! That's You! You are not able to sit back and enjoy the whole content! You are a Sad Testament.

[@SletnamMusic]

@@shirley9529 Oh no , I'm a jazz-performer (singer) ... and you're not ! It has nothing to do with me being sad , OK ? Jazzmeia Horn doesn't know the composer's names ... That's sad , OK ! That way she's just making a fool out of herself ...

[@JulieBluestoneMusic]

@@shirley9529 no need to be angry when someone corrects a composer. Willow is such an amazing part of our songbook and deserves the corrected credit to Ann Ronell, one of a few women composers of that time! Be respectful, please.

[@shirley9529]

@@JulieBluestoneMusic And, who do you think you are, ordering people to be respectful on a public comment section? I am not the person whom you accused of being angry and disrespectful. If I commented at all, my information comes from a point of professional expertise and knowledge. My pro-knowledge is honored throughout the world, so, evidently, unlike you I do have a life and a reputation to maintain. You need not respond, as I don't have the time for your trolling nothingness! Now, You are Dismissed!

[@itsjackylegs]

That voice control

[@1970superted]

Amazing artist

[@Gabrisan-HaitiLegends]

I feel it in my soul.

[@concertino1000]

Amazing!!!

[@DnBarPoet77]

Beautiful!

[@ebodelbianco5773]

cosmic jazzmeja I LOVE YOU TOO

[@pierreelycharles6023]

Great 👏👏👏👍🙏🙏🔥❤️❤️

[@kattygold5122]

Amazing 🖤🖤🖤🖤👸👸👸👸👸

[@necessarydiva]

ART

[@realtv101]

Beautiful Black Goddess 😍

[@tphillips4870]

Come thru Bass man.......Yes!!!!!!!

[@saxfish]

< ! SooOoo ExXx-C-Lent¡ Betty Carter´s Legacy !¡! Superb !¡! >

[@nikolay214644jazz]

Super!!!

[@4EDoug]

🖤👸🏾🖤👸🏾x4

[@sknmwms6516]

Betteye Carter is pleased!

[@JC-rs3nh]

i love you

[@avaelizabeth140]

Some people in the comments act like they’ve never heard of scat singing

[@pollyannalight6313]

Oh, you can scat . . Like this? Impressive!

[@jeannettemuhanji966]

If she comes anywhere near me, I’m there

[@AgaPadar]

She is on the level of Mrs. Fitzgerald or Mrs. Vaughan, Mrs Holiday is emotional in another universe, but by my humble personal opinion I would enjoy to hear her the same in a concert as I did Mrs. Fitzgerald. Jazzmeia Horn has this aura on stage only the best have. And what I like about comparing her to Mrs Fitzgerald in concert, she is entertaining, as all great before her knew what the audience pays the tickets for. Amazing music and entertainment are not mutually exclusive. 😀

[@Rickriquinho]

Please, don't be ridiculous!

[@thomasstone2596]

@@Rickriquinho Exactly, most ridiculous!!

[@electrojazz14]

killer singer

[@sallybowles2781]

best living singer, I believe

[@hakeemahmadjamal7403]

I’ve never seen dance in a jazz performance

[@NarvasolQuirupira]

diablos o mis oídos están mal, o esta mujer canta espantoso. [para mí, obvio.] amor y paz.

[@teocratachilensis5776]

Absolutamente desafinada cuando improvisa levemente desafinada cuando canta... Somos 2

[@wowbddlz8334]

49:37 green eyes

[@charleswilliams308]

Thank you!!!

[@SamYiin]

The Emperor's new clothes

[@oljamarkovic890]

Fineganovg bdenje

[@borututuforte]

She's very good, but kinda overdoes everything.

[@albertbrown359]

This is free music.By your words you dont understand.

[@fiddell69]

Too much screaming and shouting and rather imitative of Betty Carter.

[@nlproductions9215]

don't really like her jazz style. it sounds very lazy

[@venuswarrior8456]

Dear God I'm going to get a headache

[@Rickriquinho]

She hand-picked an entirely Black and brown team from bandmates to to hair and makeup and even a hired backstage film crew, people she knew would share a common goal. "I was nit-picky on everything," Horn says. THAT'S PURE RACISM!

[@dynowhips7825]

I hate Jazz.

[@cAnimeAi]

..is this a joke?

[@michaelbrickley2443]

You’re either kidding or you’re not a fan of jazz vocals...or jazz period. This woman is not just incredibly talented but she is doing what all the greats of music do; she has learned from the masters and while evocative of some of the greatest jazz singers, she is also bringing it forward and making it into her own very special blend.

[@cAnimeAi]

@@michaelbrickley2443 whatever you say gatekeeper

[@valerierosehuggins145]

@@cAnimeAi aren't u the one gatekeeping by saying it's a joke. Just bc you don't like it doesn't mean it doesn't have appeal bud

[@cAnimeAi]

@@valerierosehuggins145 please google the definition of gatekeeping first and thank you

[@verheugen4]

You fear jazz.

[@teocratachilensis5776]

She is Out of tune!!! 🤦🏻‍♂️🤷‍♂️😎

[@garybryant8434]

Wrong she is incredible.. As Theolonious Monk said "The piano ain’t got no wrong notes’:.

[@pollyannalight6313]

Get the wax drilled out of your ears!

[@seanmarshall8799]

I had the feeling ,while listening, that if the other musicians had stopped she wouldn't have noticed....

[@paulgibby6932]

@@garybryant8434 Good. Or (along those lines) maybe she is just singing the right wrong notes.

[@jbharms1]

Yea, her intonation can be a little iffy at times.. the phrasing, ideas and general vibe are great tho

[@RebornThroughHate]

Is she drunk? Just keeps yelling at the microphone with an attitude. She's either drunk or crazy.

[@Rickriquinho]

Jazz is not an African American music at all. It is European American music. I'm sorry if this is not politically correct.

[@mompe__]

Jazz is from everywhere...

[@JaySmith-mz7vg]

Lol. This has nothing to do with being politically correct, it isn't correct at all. There are numerous documentaries & books that can be found on the internet that addresses this subject & yet you still decided to be incorrect. Jazz music was created by African Americans & this isn't even remotely debatable.

[@Rickriquinho]

@@JaySmith-mz7vg Well, I was not talking about peoples’ skin color. Jazz is composed of European harmony, melody, beauty, sense of structure and instruments mixed with American characteristics. Jazz is an art form; it is not folklore. There are no African elements in jazz, because NOTHING in jazz comes from Africa. Of course it is debatable, because there are no historical evidences that jazz has been created by black people. In fact, there are no historical evidences of the skin color of who has created jazz. All we have are ODJB records. Buddy Bolden is largely a legend. Jelly Roll Morton has said that he played Ragtime not jazz. Sidney Bechet has affirmed that his band played Blues. Is it possible that Bolden has created jazz? Yes, it is. Are there proofs? No. The most interesting aspect is that the skin color of someone is not important. If somebody of white complexion has created jazz, it does not change this music at all, and we must accept that.

[@susanneshields2492]

Jazz came from the blues... the African American music par excellence..

[@Rickriquinho]

@@susanneshields2492 Blues is just one element that exists in jazz, not his essence.

[@livemusicnyc6357]

she's not playing african music, yet she's wearing african "fashion". wow....talking about not understanding basics of what you are doing and why...shes' talented, but ain't no billie holiday or amy winehouse here....just good enough...yup