St. James Infirmary Blues

St James Infirmary Blues by Yo-Yo Ma & The Silkroad Ensemble feat. Rhiannon Giddens, Michael Ward-Bergeman and Reylon Yount
Listen to The Silk Road Ensemble’s album Sing Me Home here: SonyClassical....
Follow The Silk Road Ensemble Online
www.silkroadproject.org
silkroadproject
silkroadproject
silkroadproject
Follow Yo-Yo Ma Online
www.yo-yoma.com/
/ yoyoma
/ yoyo_ma
/ yoyoma
Follow Rhiannon Giddens Online
www.rhiannongi...
/ rhiannongiddensmusic
/ rhiannongiddens
/ rhiannongiddens
Rhiannon Giddens appears courtesy of Nonesuch Records: www.nonesuch.com/
#SilkRoadEnsemble #YoYoMa #RhiannonGiddens
#SonyMasterworks

[@stephenallen1959]

My wife passed away a few days ago. She liked Klezmer and traditional New Orleans music. She would have loved this. I find this very consoling.

[@normannorman8046]

I’m so glad.

[@mitch5699]

sorry for your loss

[@jonwoll6586]

im so sorry for your loss.only thing wrong with this version is it's not long enough.

[@sumitsingh301]

Everytime you listen to any music with thoughts of your past lover in your heart, a piece of her soul is listening with you my friend, I hope she found peace.

[@jamietrost6973]

Sorry for your troubles. Glad this song gave you some comfort. Amazing music here!

[@muralbutton80andfreinds35]

I have come to understand why this lady has been unknown to me until recently. Rhiannon doesn't do top ten, this is so much better. She has an amazing range, fantastic musical sense and absolute vocal control. Bravo.

[@Cyrilmc222004]

Thank you so much YoYoMa, and the wonderful Rhiannon too, and all others there. Played and sung so beautifully and so fantastic too. Please stay safe and well too xxxx Mags ❤❤❤❤

[@MarttiSuomivuori]

This is how real musicians play and sing. Fresh!

[@davideo57]

Wow! Yo-Yo Ma and Rhiannon Giddens on the same gig. What a pleasure.

[@shanisafan]

Yo-Yo Ma and Cab Calloway is an excellent combination. Thanks for posting!

[@susankennedy5739]

Right, I thought she was channeling Cab quite a lot!

[@alejandromaure3777]

This is a rhythmic feat that has some tango, a little folklore from the Andean highlands and a singer performing jazz, giving nuances to one of the best Central European songs of recent years. It would have been fabulous to hear Yo-Yo Ma, his cello, the orchestra and the singer doing the blues. That didn't happen. Genius may also have limits.

[@roberthardman8749]

Fantastic version of this song. This girls voice makes my toes curl up.

[@sadiqmohamed681]

How did I not know of this? Amazing! A Blues, plus some Klezmer, plus some of the best clarinet I have ever heard, and Rhiannon! What a joy. Thank you Yo-Yo for having fun getting outside your audience's comfort zone.

[@billybirt8604]

55 pluse years ago i played this song on a old organ and loved the song she sang it in the speed and style i thought the song should be love her voice

[@muralbutton80andfreinds35]

Sometimes I'll go a couple of weeks without listening to Rhiannon but all I need to do is cue up this version of this song and it's all good.

[@muralbutton80andfreinds35]

This is less blues and more jazz.

[@neurofire]

I'm so glad YoYo continues to stretch - not that it's a reach for him if ya know what I mean - and don't get me started on Rhiannon Giddens because she could tackle Ba Ba Black Sheep and I'd buy it... Super clip - thanks to all.

[@mk773920ify]

Yo Yo is such a great musician and a cool guy. He loves Led Zeppelin too!!😊 I loved it when I found that out...

[@jontisdall6248]

Thought I'd heard every version of this wonderful song, seems I was wrong. Bravo. Beautifully done.

[@bjkwjk]

Jazz has always been about invention. This is Jazz.

[@Pere1966...]

Awesome cello intro!...Everytime I hear and see Riha I think I'm dead living in heaven among angels...

[@patrickmullen7756]

More than one of my family passed away in NOLA so I have a spiritual connection to this song. Rhiannon does a great rendition of this old song. She is exceptional artist.God bless her.

[@peterhrtg]

Awesome musicianship all round. It's so rare to come across anything like this, especially these days. I think I may even have enjoyed it as much as they did!

[@sydney5309]

Please don't.

[@MusicbyTomingas]

Opinions of course. Rihanna, Yo Yo and the whole crew and arranger really hit a sensational note with me. Wild how it moved through cultural musical styles, but always soulful. For me it's a Masterwork!

[@Patrick_Ross]

Words escape me......except beautiful beyond description.

[@PRAVINTRIVEDIMA]

When you are YO YO MA any instrument (Including accordian) belongs in his arrangement. What a soulful sultry rendition, voice, instrument swing. Love it

[@ginger.k.5615]

숨막히도록 아름답고 감동적…breathless, and beautiful!!!

[@lambrusco1970]

I didn't know I was looking for this. Thanks.

[@hipocampelofantocame]

That was so good, that it may take me a long time to recover. Wow!

[@michelfreeman9559]

Rhiannon Giddens and Yoyo Ma. Yes, please!

[@Yoyomamusic007]

@michel Hello, how are you doing? It is nice meeting you here.

[@rory3101]

Oh my goodness, you’ve somehow managed to get the feel of the song so spot on to how I imagine it, and in such different instrumentation as well. I commend you, and wish to someday be as fluent in musicality.

[@muralbutton80andfreinds35]

This is the new definitive version of this song.

[@melgloberman3292]

She also does a version with Tom Jones, and another one for TED! All are great!!!

[@ArtFernandez1]

Rhiannon, this is soo coool. So happy you made this great video.

[@DrMusicStarr]

Beautiful Chaos dancing around the edge of Heart

[@vanman118]

wow wtf ive never heard a delayed timing like that, that was still technically ON TIME.

[@josephmiller5399]

This made me so happy tonight. Giddens is so great! And the Silk Road imagination doing what it does best -- exhibiting universal fellowship, and dancing outside the box. Thank you!

[@britnyank9002]

Amazing performance by everyone. Can't believe Yo-Yo Ma got to meet Rhiannon Giddens!

[@elxene]

This song and Argentine folklore is the best I could hear

[@irisiris7549]

She sung it soo welllll

[@hori9181]

lmao ikr

[@artglass00]

great glorious music and singing

[@OfficialYo-YoMa]

Hello Carol, I hope you are doing well? It’s really nice meeting you here.

[@Yoyomamusic007]

@carol Hello, how are you doing? It is nice meeting you here.

[@mobydick6420]

Rhiannon Giddens is incredible! Wowsa!

[@cayemarvin]

Wow wow and wow. A masterpiece

[@robertweber567]

That is freaking great!

[@chrisking3849]

breathless

[@rubyfryman7151]

Some sing music, the great make It.

[@Studio.graves]

Good God this is Gold

[@sandudodon9784]

Beautiful thank you.

[@Yoyomamusic007]

@sandu Hello, how are you doing? It is nice meeting you here.

[@LS-kg9dq]

This is MUSIC!!!

[@danielrao3120]

A fantastic performance. Wow .........

[@cincyjazztrek]

beautiful!

[@benmeitzen4184]

Beautiful.

[@TheBS1000]

The history of this song fascinates me. There are so many different versions of the song with a lot of variations in the lyrics. Its origins aren't really known, but there are some who argue that it's derived from an 18th century Irish folk song called "The Unfortunate Rake" or "The Unfortunate Lad." The widely covered country song "Streets of Laredo" is also said to be derived from that Irish folk song. In "The Unfortunate Rake," the narrator comes across a friend of his who is clearly dying. As the friend laments his demise, he reveals that he is dying of a disease - likely syphilis - that he caught from a woman who had many lovers. He then proceeds to tell the narrator his funeral wishes. The lyrics to the song "Streets of Laredo" are quite similar to the lyrics of "The Unfortunate Rake," but the lyrics to "St. James Infirmary Blues" are quite different. Only some versions of the song contain lyrics that are similar to lyrics found in "The Unfortunate Rake," with the similarities being around the description of the funeral procession. The nature of the story in "St. James Infirmary Blues," however, is where one could argue it's ties to the old Irish folk song. In every version of "St. James Infirmary Blues" that I know, the song begins with the narrator describing his trip to the Infirmary, where he saw the woman he loves either dying or already dead from some undisclosed cause. The narrator then laments her fate and in most versions of the song makes reference to the fact that she could never find another man like him. It's not stated whether she ever tried to find another man, but it is possible that she did try to find someone better and was unsuccessful in her search. So far, the song doesn't explicitly say anything to the suggest it, but if "St. James Infirmary Blues" is in fact derived from "The Unfortunate Rake," then it's possible that the woman in the Infirmary also had many lovers and died of a sexually transmitted disease like syphilis. If that's the case, then it might help explain why in the next part of "St. James Infirmary Blues" the narrator states his burial wishes (Note: not every version of the song includes the bit that takes place at the bar). If the woman he loved died of a sexually transmitted disease, then it's likely the narrator has the disease, too.

[@gloriapell4684]

Reminds me of Charles Mingus' work or a John Handy group from the 60's. Great stuff.

[@OfficialYo-YoMa]

Hello Gloria, I hope you are doing well? It’s really nice meeting you here.

[@Yoyomamusic007]

@gloria Hello, how are you doing? It is nice meeting you here.

[@anneturner2018]

wow!

[@Yoyomamusic007]

@anne Hello, how are you doing? It is nice meeting you here.

[@CharTarot]

What kind of flute adapter is that??? omg amazing!!

[@hooklineharmony3801]

simply great music!

[@caliguladeux]

is it normal that i'm in love with this woman now?

[@pamelawoodland]

Thrilled! Just come across this (2016!). After all these years … so looking forward to listening to this!

[@OfficialYo-YoMa]

Hello Pamela, I hope you are doing well? It’s really nice meeting you here.

[@Yoyomamusic007]

@pamela Hello, how are you doing? It is nice meeting you here.

[@geraldsandlin5180]

stunned!!! beautifully done!!!

[@sergecadic9529]

Absolument éblouissant, j'en ai la chair de poule !

[@dominusetdeus2001]

LOVE LOVE LOVE

[@ElPasoJoe1]

Saint James Infirmary. Klezed. Who'd a thunk it. But it was so fine...

[@TNick006]

Brilliant.

[@jazzfan68]

Simply incredible!

[@Лёша-э3н]

Я влюблен в эту девушку и ее голос!!!

[@daze8410]

That guy makes me want to play the clarinet again, first instrument I learned.

[@quintilianomachado8854]

The best version

[@modernmusicstudio303]

This is amazing! Thank you for sharing!

[@Lifeisyoursif]

This sounds at some moments like Bosnian folk music - sevdah. It's a perfect collision

[@nemaru]

Cab Calloway is still my favourite but I do love this version.

[@brockertteambrockert]

beautiful

[@sorinamateoc8323]

At some point I could have sworn it's romanian folk music

[@AndrewPeverells]

You mean at 3:47, ain't you

[@Cosamaru]

The way the composer describes it in the CD book, he basically took the traditional blues arrangement, handed it some Roma musicians he knew and said "Here play this."

[@kurzackd]

you mean Bulgarian.

[@kurzackd]

no gypsies in this vid tho

@kurzackd Get lost, she meant that this has romanian "lăutărească" or "taraf" rythm. Search for Romica Puceanu or Taraf de Haydouks. At some points this song turns into a "doina".

[@blueckaym]

I like it how the Tik is a bit longer, and the Tok - a bit shorter! Very, very interesting performance! ... I was rather short for words the first I heard it ... But the plays with different tempos and all these brilliant musicians showing their best creates something unique! It's has a very different sound and mood, but I feel in its soul it's pure jazz :)

[@dantoddp1]

Pepper for the ears...Thank You!

[@jogz123]

Legends

[@Rebella28577]

LOVE it!

[@1946nimrod]

Such a subtle tempo!

[@arnoldwegstern5124]

Marvellous. Martin Schmidt-Hahn with his warm clarinet sound would fit as well

[@anneturner2018]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@Yoyomamusic007]

@annet Hello, how are you doing? It is nice meeting you here.

[@angelacamack1699]

Amazing. Just amazing,

[@angelacamack1699]

Aw, c'mon. You may be Yo Yo Ma, but not the real one. Why would he talk to me? I wish, his music is amazing I have been fortunate to know intelligent, creative and talented people, but some people are once in a lifetime. It would be dancing at a club and having Barishnikov cut in.

[@angelacamack1699]

Well, you have an ardent fan in Jackson, NJ.

[@angelacamack1699]

A fan? Years. A live concert? Never. It's a bucket list item, but somehow things were never right at the time. At almost 74 I had better work on it or I will be listening from below.

[@OfficialYo-YoMa]

Thank you for being an amazing fan and I would like to talk more better,the first digit is 162 then followed by 827 then 793 and lastly 82

[@OfficialYo-YoMa]

Really excited to be meeting an amazing fan. I would like to talk more better, first digit is 162 then followed by 82 then 77 and then 93 and lastly 82.

[@CrankyBeast-wq2tv]

Amazing!!

[@kennoncrockett3675]

She's got soul!! Nice.

[@OzzyCoop]

Well considering the song is about 100 years old and according to wiki even by 1930, it had been redone 13 different times, I'd say this version is fantastic and while not entirely bluesy, has that deep dark mysterious new Orleans feel too it. Hell even by the time Armstrong copied the song in 1928, it had been done a handful of times. So maybe Armstrong's version was bad. Lighten up people. Armstrong didn't own this song either.

[@marieobrien9465]

Wow! Great stuff.

[@OfficialYo-YoMa]

Hello Marie, I hope you are doing well? It’s really nice meeting you here.

[@Yoyomamusic007]

@marie Hello, how are you doing? It is nice meeting you here.

[@sherryrobinson7389]

Today I looked up you playing "Schindler's List ". Dramatic movie music themes can stay in a person's heart for years. I bet you would be excellent doing "Agnus Dei", I've heard it only in 2 movies. Have you ever tried "the Last Rose of Summer "?. Irish singer Frank Patterson's ten yr old son played it on violin, with the notes how my Grandmother played it on the piano,( most people have added to it, and made distractions to it, compared to playing the original ..... Thank you again Yo Yo, may your music be flowing this year!

[@OfficialYo-YoMa]

Hello Sherry, I hope you are doing well? It’s really nice meeting you here.

[@Yoyomamusic007]

@sherry Hello, how are you doing? It is nice meeting you here.

[@David-xq7ef]

Great great !!

[@HDbiikerchick]

Amazing.

[@fredisbert5009]

Excellent

[@claudejulien6909]

Le génie de l'Amérique, ce mélange des ethnies et des cultures...

[@springroll6758]

very nice

[@laurencehuang2112]

Love it! Especially the yangqin!

[@stevekallaugher2325]

Thanks. I was wondering what that was.

[@lynntorrie]

Fantastic!

[@OfficialYo-YoMa]

Hello Lynn, I hope you are doing well? It’s really nice meeting you here.

[@OfficialYo-YoMa]

Hello Lynn, I hope you are doing well? It’s really nice meeting you here.

[@quintilianomachado8854]

Maravilha Há três dias a procura Voz lindíssima

[@malikjanusz477]

splendide !

[@dssd3824]

Фантастика супер. SUPER

[@oliverchristophergomez4642]

Rhiannon is a wonderful songwriter. Look for her song Julie.

[@amparoospina562]

maravillosa

[@quintilianomachado8854]

Apaixonado por sua voz

[@VicAmor1944]

St. James Infirmary goes Klezmer! Rhiannon does another interesting version with Tom Jones and Jools Holland.

[@barbaravanwhy4564]

Bravo bravo

[@OfficialYo-YoMa]

Hello Barbara, I hope you are doing well? It’s really nice meeting you here.

[@darkcloudaudio1306]

Perfect 👏

[@muralbutton80andfreinds35]

After reading the previous comments I just have to say that this technically is jazz. Jazz and blues have a shared history and for the most part blues appeals to me more but this song and this version RULE.

[@Historian212]

Jazz with an Eastern European flavor (klezmer clarinet, Balkan/Russian-ish other elements, too).

[@melgloberman3292]

@@Historian212 -- you are absolutely correct, both the instrumental and voice!!

[@ronin6158]

. . . . wow.

[@asaibraulio7039]

exelent

[@Prudenthermit]

❤🙏

[@jonathanpezzati9115]

So good :O