Kurt Elling: A House is Not a Home

Kurt Elling performs "A House is Not a Home" at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

[@laslatty1016]

Sadly some people just don’t get it......it’s part of a jazz musician’s DNA to play around with the original melody...Miles Davis coined the phrase a long time ago.....”Straightening out a song”. This guy is one helluva talented musician....I loved how he pushes the boundaries.....constantly! That’s what contemporary music is all about.

[@johnrawl4856]

You get it. You're either a musician, ex-musician, or avid jazz fan. And you're absolutely right.

[@AndreasDelleske]

Kurt takes a song and makes it into what I'd expect from an opera.

[@billsfan9889]

What a beautiful and thoughtful rendition of that song! Kurt Elling is masterful with his vocal interpretation of this song and everything else he sings. He has complete command of his “instrument” and this just blew me away. The band members are all virtuosos in their own right.... just WOW !!!

[@jgsdpd]

I just saw him in Seattle on January 31st at the Triple Door. He does NOT disappoint. Great voice and also with Charlie Hunter! Such a great night for me...

[@laslatty1016]

I was a session musician for 35 years. Played for the best of them.....Bird, Miles, Shirley Horn, Sarah, Carmen MacRae, Chris Connor, Anita O’Day, June Christy etcetcetc. IMO ..THIS GUY CAN SING HIS PANTS OFF!,, His phrasing is second only to Mark Murphy, Mel Torme and of course ‘ol blue eyes. You cannot compare him to Luther Vandross.......they are performing in 2 different genres. As for signing off key ...what would you say about Mark Murphy one of the Legends of jazz singing?........it’s like comparing apples with oranges!!!

[@reeree-tareem]

Yessss he can sing this brother has sooo much soul inside

[@terryodonnell589]

MR MURT ELLING SiMPLY THE BEST CAN’T BE TOUCHED!!!

[@johndavies8956]

Hal David would've loved this interpretation of his lyrics. Burt too.

[@ruthslone2992]

This is one of my favorite tunes and I love what Kurt did with it here! He's unique and imaginative and my favorite jazz singer.❤️

[@Luv2Susan]

have seen him several times at JALC and he never disappoints. Love his voice, his interpretations, the guy is magical.

[@sophieisabel18]

never heard this done in 5/4 before... amazing !

[@philipburge]

Lawrence Hobgood keeps it all together for Kurt. Sure wish they would make records again. The new ones lack his gentle grace (IMHO)

[@patriciamichaelareif2751]

I love Kurt Elling's voice so much, could hear this song 24/7 !! I nearly play him every day....and I feel great !!! Hopefully he comes to Vienna/Austria 🇦🇹!!!!

[@gerrysiebert8639]

saw him live. best concert ever.

[@reeree-tareem]

This guy has soooo much #Soul

[@melissaalvarado4820]

Well, this is so heartfelt. I get it Kurt, simply beautiful, so playful with bending the notes. I love the 5/4 rhythm.

[@STASSTING]

I could listen to this song all day long.

[@gobabe2396]

Every single I mean every single time ut will be different. Amazing isn’t it. It’s creating. It can nit be the same. Love Jazz. And I thank my ancestors for creating it. We own this. Hallelujah!

[@violetskye5148]

going to see him live for the 1st time next week in Toronto, Soooo excited 😄

[@lesternero2040]

Saw him live several times. Impeccable phrasing and timing. Such a pity Norwegian wood live at Jools was taken offline.

[@STASSTING]

How beautiful is this

[@MrDadatom1]

Great Elling

[@sharonhendrix7496]

Exquisite.👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽❤️

[@isabornau]

Beautiful ❤️

[@andrewculwell707]

Incomparable!

[@niktour352]

When he improvises, it sounds a lot like an rnb singer. I love it.

[@cvchristo]

Savage Soft. Lovin' it.

[@ianme5]

Beautiful.

[@Gracenotesmusic]

Very nice version, Kurt. all the best Grace T

[@nosliwed]

Hi Jimbo, I love the name but truly, I would like you to broaden your aural horizons. Yes, a few notes are marginal but this is part of a singer's poetic licence! I'm a Sarah V. fan but also dig Kurt, an interesting and imaginative jazz vocalist, one of the best around!

[@denisenoel3852]

I am a fan too ... and probably because I grew up listening to and loving Sarah Vaughn . Thanks for your comment. I was feeling a bit alone out here. But I guess music is like food ... you like or not and nothing to be discussed.

[@debrafriend1244]

Amazing voice

[@sebastianorlando7275]

una exquisitez...

[@dillmon1]

I love how he doesnt try to sound to like Luther Vandross a all

[@pputnam100]

well that would be truly foolish cuz Luther was magnificent, and unequaled singing this in a soul style, but this arrangement is marvallous, and Kurt sings it wonderfully. No, believe me, Kurt knows well how incredibly Luther sang this, and I'm sure he loved his version

[@rmac1042]

I never care if someone doesn't like a performer, but when people question an artist's musical credibility because they don't understand his technical knowledge of his craft, that's where I draw the line! Dislike a musician because he doesn't speak to you, but NEVER disparage an artist's musical craft--especially someone like Kurt--unless you have the qualifications to do so! It just makes you look ignorant and identifies you as the jerk you are!

[@reeree-tareem]

Amen, Kury is awesome just awesome

[@reeree-tareem]

Kurt is awesome just awesome

[@kevintaylor2643]

Exactly, well said.

[@kevintaylor2643]

Exactly, well said.

[@saxfish]

< ¡ Oh F..k I LOVE yOu !

[@bscnyc9948]

Philip Burge.... I agree. many thanks... 💯▶️🐒🍌💞🙄👻

[@boulejazz]

Silly to judge a jazz artist by a singular performance. Musicians, especially jazz/improvisational are effected by moods, physical energy, audience energy, room acoustics, band, etc…If the vibe is good you can experience an elevation in group energy and individual creative risk taking. You may even hear some “magic” as risk taking starts to inspire both the group and audience. But…it’s never the same and that’s the beauty of jazz and improvisational music. If you want perfect or the same performance every time, play a recording at home. Live jazz is (or should be) about taking risk. But, also consider when you take

[@marymunro1142]

This follow is second only to Mark Murphy in my book. His be

[@marymunro1142]

His bending of notes is so reminensence of Murphy. Keep the tunes coming, Kurt. I am all ears. Thank you for such a marvelous rendition of a song I haven't heard in years, and making my intestines clench at its pathos and beauty.

[@melissaalvarado4820]

Brandon Lee, beautiful

[@laslatty1016]

When we start comparing Kurt Elling’s style with Luther Vandross (with due respect to Luther) ...it’s like comparing apples with oranges...at that point we stop talking about jazz and start talking about pop......and that’s where it ends for me!

[@jbriggs1124]

Lovely. I can sing mostly just like this and then some .. scanting with holding

[@bscnyc9948]

Mike Cortina.... I agree... 🤩👻▶️🤐🐒🍌🙄🤣😜👆

[@user-rk7tz7on6c]

There is no way on God's earth that anyone can sing that anywhere near luther

[@francosavadori7292]

Kurt Elling is a serious and well prepared artist. Technically speaking he is always perfect, maybe too perfect. This is his artistic limit. He is never able to trascend himself.. I never feel his heart. Her sister, in this way , is Roberta Gambarini, the female edition of Kurt. If you compare, on this track, Kurt with Luther Vandross, he is 4.000 miles far from Luther's feeling and soul. Even when he sings some of the songs of his mentor Mark Murphy, he always remains behind. Too cold. He is a great singer, but not a "total" singer. Mark Murphy didn't like him as a man. I will never love him madly. He misses something, Even if I respect him and I know he is one of the best singer on the scene. Not in these kind of songs. It's boring, not emotional.

[@vegansydmost1345]

Too much orchestra, same with Ella sometimes. I love Betty Carter and Abby Lincoln for the tight and soulful musical bond....

[@reedrudy6622]

i would venture to guess you've never seem him live? Nothing but heart. He leaves you speechless.

[@lilackey]

@@reedrudy6622 seen him, heard him on my local opera house scene. It's beyond words - his expression, his improvisations, the colour of his low register and last but not least, his extraordinary respect to the musicians surrounding him and to the listeners. Was a pleasure to host you in my city, Mr. Elling! I wish we'd have you in Szczecin again, in afterCorona strange world.

[@mariofranco8874]

Jimbo 71347 , Ok Sarah was over the top, but this KE is as much or more sophisticated , educate yourself , or go live in Alaska....please!!!!!

[@boulejazz]

...

[@phinehasnyangoro9327]

Good job, melody is rushed a little....

[@Jimbo71347]

I don't have any idea what all the fuss is about wrt Kurt Elling. This guy can't sing on pitch for beans. Listen to Sarah Vaughan sing the same tune on KZbin and you'll see what I mean.

[@tonyde52]

Sarah Vaughan was Sarah Vaughn. THIS IS KURT ELLING. to each his OWN.

[@GERSHWINGAL7]

Jimbo71347 Kurt Elling is fabulous. Sarah Vaughn would love have loved him. Music isn't a contest. Each artist is unique. So silly.

[@hottubz1965]

+Jimbo71347 Approach his singing/voice as if it's a horn, maybe you'll see it differently.

[@songdanceman]

+Jimbo71347 Art isn't about perfection. It's about telling stories, feeling and conveying emotions, being real and in the moment. Sinatra couldn't sing for beans either. But damn, could he make you feel something.

[@rmac1042]

My God! You don't know anything about jazz! Kurt is one of the most amazing male singers out there! You are mistaking intonation with substitution melodic lines! If you don't have musician sensibilities, don't criticize the art! You're intitled to your opinion and your choice of performances, but you DON'T have the right to criticize his musicianship, because you don't know what you're talking about!

[@francosavadori7292]

Mr Elling can sing very well, sometimes heavenly, but he needs to chose the songs carefully. This is not a good one for him. This track was the track of Luther Vandross and Sarah Vaughan. After them nothing to do! this is a good and clear exercise, but nothing more. Flat, unemotional and boring. Roberta Gambarini and Kurt Elling are always perfect performers but often they cannot show their soul, so they become sadly academic. This is the reason they have been invited at Lincoln Center, where Wynton Marsalis is the king of a cold and pure formal jazz. No more jazz, no more heart. Nothing more to add.

[@Beyondabsence]

franco savadori I completely understand your statement but since perception in music can sometimes be subjective, I can say I love Kurt's work and at the de time obsessed with the visceral genius Keith Jarrett, and you can't more heart than that. Sarah Vaughan os great but exaggerated on her performances. Brad Melhdau, to me, is indeed highly cerebral and academic.

[@josephsullivan1612]

Gee Mr. Savadori, that's very bleak. : (

[@pputnam100]

@@josephsullivan1612 well I do agree with his take on Wynton and that whole Lincoln center scene: awesome technically, but there's some icy perfection that I don't feel their hearts either., but this guy is an all time great, though I miss Hobgood with him now

[@carlomorena9759]

Unemotional?Boring??😎

[@carlomorena9759]

WHO are we to think we can talk without any respect about Kurt, Wynton, Roberta Gambarini?...

[@TheToocold]

Bogus! Why do people think that this man can sing? WHY is he popular? Plus the band is purely pretentious. Like a planned community. Fake singer, corny band with nothing to say. I don't care.

[@tomtheeagle1]

If ignorance is bliss, you must be ecstatic!

[@reedrudy6622]

I'm sure others would agree with you, BUT he inspires many with his true artistry. i've seen him live and this guy's got it in his bones. I think you're missing out.