"St. James Infirmary Blues" | Silk Road Ensemble + Rhiannon Giddens

[@Xando372]

She produces some of the most beautiful sounds you can hear these days. What a talented woman!

[@thanemacinnes8188]

Transcendence soulfulness

[@paulgleitman7096]

She’s absolutely magnificent. Deserves much more recognition. Multitalented.

[@RandyTheBee]

I came for Rhiannon Giddens. The band is jaw-droppingly good! Love the Romani quality.

[@kitano0]

A wonderful look back at an artist that is still growing and teaching us all.

[@Laura-ts4dh]

Rhiannon is the most talented vocalist I know of. This music is absolutely superb. ❤️

[@paulgleitman7096]

Better all the time . She’s fabulous and her accompanists equally so. Fabulous!!

[@DonnieTHORMacLEOD]

She belongs to this Jazz favorite like a Silk glove on the hand of a Queen.

[@mikemollenhour5500]

Riotous interpretation of heart-wrenching old blues classic and American story. It's miraculous how Rhiannon and Silk Road Ensemble re-imagined St. James Infirmary Blues. Thanks!

[@allansheets9031]

Re-imagined is correct. Into another song. Can't dislike this enough

[@chrisking3849]

I can't play a tune but I can take in the beauty, Giddens voice and the music so fully and well played, Thank you.

[@vicjohnson9006]

This music is so complete different! It really shouldn’t work but dang it works! It’s like a short vacation for just my brain! Much love here

[@whyasktheworldofword]

My favourite vocalist, songwriter, and multi instrumentalist, with a great group of artists. Loved the flute solo too.

[@ktiger32698k]

And here I wanted to see comments about this video. Pity. Really just loved everything about this piece: the vocals, the instrumentals, the story. It was wonderful.

[@TheRandomAsian711]

This is the third time I've listened to this video and I haven't actually watched it before, so when I saw the shakuhachi head joint attached to the metal flute I got so shook (I'm a flute player). Really interesting how it still works out :D I absolutely love this group and what they do because it shows that musicians can give back to the world in a profound and impactful way. Honestly, they contribute more to the world than a lot of people, and their music is beautifully foreign and familiar, but still so different.

[@suechandler8162]

I like, LOVE the Gypsy Romany vibe. Roma is GOOD❤❤❤

[@paulgleitman7096]

Wonderful production highlighted by Rhiannon Giddens.

[@rickmarcotte2386]

Super tight, incredible performance! Hard work and diligence definitely required to get to this masterful level.

[@pegerockas]

Very nicely done... She's becoming my favorite female singer...

[@jayep13]

Hang on she big time, too. Bro you know.

[@melgloberman3292]

Sorry but I beat you to it she has been my favorite singer for the past eight years!

[@susankennedy5739]

LOVE the Rumanian quality, the 7/8 meter passages, the use of the yangqin, accordion and bass, all sounding very Balkan. As is the clarinet, of course! Fantastic. Thank you.

[@paulgleitman7754]

Superb. Magnificent performance by Miss Giddens , fabulous instrumentation.

[@annesofiegrumsen105]

Since other people are busy complaining about the other video, I'll at least leave a comment about this one; This is an amazing version of this song. Well done and please do come with more

[@clare.conservation98]

This actually reminded me so much of going to the hospital 😁 coming in and seeing the usual face but then the chaos around us like at the end, constantly busy all the time. Perfection 👍

[@jayep13]

It is D❤️NE ‼️Heavens angel soothes each soul.

[@pamelawoodland]

Kudos to Michael Ward Bergman and his outstanding composition and tribute to magical musical mixes with the Romani musicians who inspired it.

[@DoctorOnce]

She's an extraordinary talent and should be much better known.

[@markkuvi]

Thank you, Silk Road Ensamble with Rhiannon Giddens for this wonderful journey to musical adventure.

[@greggjensen1350]

So many versions of this song have been done. This has gypsy feel to it. Love it!

[@williammichael2156]

Me too

[@gynack]

I've never heard this old standard sound anything like this before. A superb treatment, instrumentally and vocally.

[@andrewp.schubert2417]

awesome cover

[@gailwest8178]

She sings like an angel

[@billybirt8604]

omg girl you are really good this is how i think this song was meant to be

[@CplAnguadaEarth]

This is the best modern cover version that I've heard recently.

[@charlottevictoria.hubbard7472]

CplAnguadaEarth the Speakeasies do a fabulous version.

[@randomdude2540]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqnFiYCbpr1qpsU This one's from today. it's different, but amazing.

[@TheAcworthdude]

She is just amazing

[@djbobman4515]

Great job SRE ! Rhiannon was very entertaining :) I think even Louis was tappin' his toe.

[@primavera3989]

She has a wonderful voice. Also, the instrumentalists are very skilled 😊

[@tracylemme1375]

Not to take anything from Ms Giddens,, but the whole arrangement is without compare. The vocals are the best, all of the musicians are without compare. But I must also give credit to the person or persons who put it all together.

[@RuleOfThum42]

Good to see TED posting musical performances again!

[@drnasrichelbi]

woooooooooow. i just listened to Billy Boy Arnold version. this one is awesome

[@paolaronci]

Best version ever!

[@markborchelt2098]

Just plain AWESOME!

[@кто-то-ш5е]

this was the most inspiring speech on ted so far!

[@markmorris4939]

Well if don’t hear , after two years , no one liked. This than it’s a sad state of affairs she the one . That’s really good , voice of change

[@icappel]

IN OTHER NEWS The video whose comment section we're in is a pretty cool fusion of music styles

[@sketchysebby7516]

This recreation of st james infirmary is a piece of history

[@SandyWeltman]

Speechless... that was so good

[@sleemercer1942]

Love the touch o' klezmer !

[@roryokane5907]

I only clicked on this because I recognised it as a song that Hugh Laurie sings - but this lady's got quite a voice!

[@roncarpenter7240]

Rory O'Kane Then you should check out her single works and Carolina Chocolate Drops, both available on You Tube. She had planned to become an opera singer, but got sidetracked--and we're better for it. Amazing talent.

[@whyasktheworldofword]

@@roncarpenter7240 also the recent collab with Francesco Turrisi - recently uploaded, a concert at the Met, an hour plus. It is amazing! It does include beautiful versions of her previous work, like 'wayfaring stranger' 'at the purchaser's option' etc.

[@jayep13]

🙏🏼

[@oughtssought1198]

there are so many very delicious very different versions of this song great example here if anyone can name a song that can meet all 3 criteria so many so delicious + so different in its multitude of versions I'll be grateful for the gift of being pointed in that (or those) other song(s) direction to tour that multitude too several days this year I've spent an hour or so just listening to the variety of ways various people deliver this masterpiece beautifully

[@aquilestadeu]

A superb presentation. Great voice and interpretation.

[@allansheets9031]

Really!? Are you not a fan of the Jack Teagarden version?

[@eugene8910]

Im here to listen to a cover of St.James Infirmary Blues that i havent heard, My favourite being Cab Calloways 1941 number

[@susankennedy5739]

She's channeling Calloway's rendition, don't you think?

[@eugene8910]

@@susankennedy5739 Oh definitely, The tremble in her voice is very simillar to how ol calloway used to sing, shes got incredible talent, amazing voice. Would love to just sip on wine with her singing in the background

[@terrykennedy-lares8840]

Wow. That was amazing.

[@th3pankake]

I wish Louie could be here to sing with her

[@williammichael2156]

Great shout indeed

[@philippetaubmann227]

splendid

[@LIFE7701]

Chills love it ❤️🙏❤️

[@albertettinger9436]

Giddens is a goddess of course. What is interesting is the sort of Klezmer version of the music. It works, at least with Giddens in front.

[@coyotecub]

Great performance of a great song. Two things: her voice is even better than I thought it was. And the words to this song are just so strange.

[@jonwoll6586]

god bless them wait you already did thank you!

[@coopereverett512]

Guys, your song is amazing, I love it the use of somewhat obscure instruments is great and I love the sound you made, I know you worked so hard on creating this song and practising it over and over and sorry that people can't have a discussion about the content of the video in question, but anyway not here to judge or to hate. Great job!

[@duf2]

Beautiful 😫💘

[@sketchysebby7516]

Ted talk needs to promote this artist

[@Kareltjekater]

Love this!

[@circolodellinconcludenza4369]

If you're here to throw your hate and disappointment about the last video comment section being deleted, I have a few things to tell you all: 1) You're being disrespectful to these amazing artists. I can't see a single comment of appreciation to this AMAZING version of a Jazz classic-cult song. 2)You're being disrespectful,pedant and closed to an institution who brings you the BEST of the high/popular/pop/music culture on the web. Before leaving your disgusted comment did you even asked yourself WHY they HAD to disable the comment section? 3)You're being disrespectful to that woman,to the people and to YOU. You're throwing hate toward a person you don't know,while being reductionist. I saw you wishing her to die,I saw you insulting her only cause you don't agree with her. I know you can do better than that. And please, don't talk about freedom of speech. If you think that freedom of speech is saying wathever you want,whenever you want to whoever you want,you clearly don't know what freedom of speech is. If you don't know how to use them,your rights mean nothing; we are in a mediatic society,and learning how to communicate is very important. One of the reasons they disabled the comment section is that you WERE NOT COMMUNICATING,YOU WERE NOT DEBATING,YOU WERE NOT DISCUSSING,YOU WERE NOT "SHARING IDEAS",YOU WERE JUST HATING,OPPRESSING AND USING YOUR RIGHTS TO HURT ANOTHER PERSON,AND YOU CAN'T DO THAT WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES IN A CIVIL SOCIETY. So Dear TED,thank you for your services and for your divulgation work.

[@circolodellinconcludenza4369]

Liam Swanepoel well I agree with a lot things you said. But the point is,in my opinion,that it's not about feelings. It's about useless discriminatory comments(that are mostly reductionists). When comment are mostly bad,the better thing would be to engage moderators to ban those type of comments,but if it's not possible,well,let's say that I understand why you would decide to close the comment section. But other than that,I agree with you,in fact I'm not blaming everyone,but just the ones that are abusing of their right to express their opinions to hate and vituperate,without putting a single argumentation.

[@allansheets9031]

Not having read what has now been deleted, I must say that I agree whole heartedly with your opinion. Well said Sir 👏

[@ocamtille9114]

cool klezemer blues jazz fusion.

[@saroyafanniel8932]

Totally! The first one who's seen the connect!!

[@marcioramosfoto]

... sublime..

[@chat4538]

DAYUM, I like.

[@garyedmondson2998]

She's now the artistic director at Silk Road.....Pretty good audition, I guess

[@1946nimrod]

I keep expecting it to break into Foggy Mountain Breakdown!!

[@rayberkin1079]

Exciting

[@kathydefilippo8085]

Everything multicultural is fabulous, especially the Silk Road Ensemble.of course they would work with her.

[@hiamjanusz7354]

solar wind ♥

[@potdog1000]

yes

[@sawomirjanusz]

amazing

[@robertschneider5327]

Great version. Fun to pick apart some of the confusion coming from the split narrative. On the one hand, we have the narrator who goes to the infirmary to see his "baby" and she is, of course, dead. Then he goes to his doctor who says she is lonely before the narrator returns to the infirmary. Then he goes to Old Joe's Bar where Old Joe McKennedy picks up the narrative. And here it becomes strange because Old Joe McKennedy says that he was the best man she'd ever had and she'll never find anyone better wherever she is. Yet the original narrator says that she was his "baby." One explanation is suggested in the long history of the song. St James Infirmary is speculated to have been a place for people with venereal disease and the woman in the song is referenced as a prostitute in some versions of the song. This might explain why both men have an attachment to her, why one of them is planning for his funeral, and why the concluding line says that he has the St. James Infirmary blues.

[@quintilianomachado8854]

Concordo I agree

[@quintilianomachado8854]

Estupendo Maravilha

[@robertduis95]

10 out of 10 !!!

[@dansavoie5087]

I like the duo performance by Rhiannon Giddens and Tom Jones better. It's shorter and mostly vocal but very good. Tom Jones was around 75 at that performance.

[@nancyrife1664]

Agree, Tom Jones never sounded better! Of course Rhiannon rocked the “joint”!

[@jorgemurilodefensordecastr2749]

C O O L !

[@BillOrme]

wow

[@jonwoll6586]

God bless her

[@vix6117]

great video 👌👌👌

[@filipdinevmusic]

Balkan vibes :)

[@kurzackd]

yep. She could have just as well sung "Stick a Gypsy band on my hearse wagon" instead of "jazz band" and it would have made perfect sense. :D

[@danielkreiman9972]

st. james klezmer

[@melgloberman3292]

My thoughts exactly, and the last few notes she sings takes it an extra mile! Further, her versions of the song with YoYo Ma, and Tom Jones are equally great!

[@jonwoll6586]

this and the hot sardines>?

[@axelpaskalisap]

why the hates?

[@snotpu]

I think people were comparing it to versions they have heard in the past, rather than judging this performance on its own merits.

[@gynack]

Why do you call Dislikes Hates?

[@allansheets9031]

Do yourself a favor and look up Jack Teagarden and His version of this song. It does Not sound like a song from Fiddler on the Roof because it's not supposed to.

[@stepno]

Could someone identify the musicians?

[@tpink8938]

Hi Bob, here are the musicians: Rhiannon Giddens - vocals Reylon Yount - yangqin Shanir Blumenkranz - bass Evan Ziporyn - clarinet Karen Ouzounian - cello Joseph Gramley - marimba Kojiro Umezaki - shakulute/furuhachi Johnny Gandelsman - violin Michael Ward-Bergeman - accordion Arrangement by Michael Ward-Bergeman based on the arrangement that appears on his GIG 365 recording kzbin.info/www/bejne/jovHn3uOebWLjqM

[@mhicmacglashan3145]

St James' Infimary

[@Carlschwamberger1]

I remember 45 years ago hearing a version of this a bit different. The other person was described not as deceased but confined in a asylum for their drinking and drug abuse. Cant recall who did it, or found it again.

[@stevesims2243]

do any of these people actually live along the silk road?

[@exoius]

Betty boop's version is still the best

[@jonwoll6586]

nina simone and pride

[@eobet]

I thought Cab Calloway popularized this tune?

[@richardbellot3147]

Dommage,cette interprétation de cette chanson »blues »transformée en klezmer,i hâte!!

[@Zahlenteufel1]

flute-guy looked like a Spanish bruce lee to me xD

[@mauriceperigord4612]

Even such music goddess as Rhiannon with her magical voice could not save this andeavor from total collaps and pretentiousness, hard to bear. Much better is version Rhiannon plus Tom Jones

[@gynack]

maurice perigord "Pretentiousness" is a bit harsh. However, I can see why some people might think she goes over the top in her playing around with the melody. I was fascinated by it, but canna make up my mind for sure how much I actually like what she does with it though I do like her voice. I'm with you on duet with Tom Jones. It is really good both vocally and instrumentally, with the Jools Holland Blues Band backing.

[@chrisking3849]

sugar has nothing on this

[@5avan10]

I just love Cab Calloway. This version is certainly interesting, but it lacks the atmosphere I love about this fantastic song. I definitely prefer Calloway's version.

[@WeeferKeef]

Great music - hate the exaggerated movements.

[@katanabluejay]

.................................................... Any comments about this video?

[@auroradarienzo]

[@ALAPINO]

Where's Yo-Yo Ma and/or Hugh Laurie?

[@DaemosG]

This was interesting, but, Cab Calloway's version was certainly better since it had much more of an atmosphere, especially in Betty Boop cartoon. Also, I'm pretty sure this song got much more popular because of Cab Calloway.

[@gynack]

Zainax Ghost Haley Reinhart did an outstanding version on American Idol in 2011, and it was done again a year of two later on Idol as well.