Coming off his expansive, Grammy-nominated 2018 studio album
Hollywood Africans,
Jon Batiste offers the more intimate and swinging
Anatomy of Angels: Live at the Village Vanguard. Recorded live in 2018 during
Batiste's residency at the storied NYC-venue,
Anatomy of Angels finds the pianist displaying his fluid jazz chops alongside his longtime Stay Human bandmates bassist Philip Kuehn and drummer
Joe Saylor. As the high-profile bandleader on Late Night with Stephen Colbert,
Batiste has often showcased his eclectic funk, R&B, and even pop influences. Here, he shifts to a more traditional jazz sound that evokes his deep New Orleans roots and passion for the music of innovative bebop pianist
Thelonious Monk. The opening trio original, "Creative," in particular evinces
Monk as
Batiste kicks the song off with an angular, rhythmically dynamic intro before settling into a jaunty, mid-tempo groove. Similarly engaging is his rambling "Dusk Train to Doha," in which he launches into a cascading rubato intro before settling into the song's slow-burning and bluesy midsection.
Batiste also brings along a series of guests including
Lake Street Dive singer
Rachael Price, who pairs with the pianist for a dusky, urbane reading of
Ray Noble's "The Very Thought of You." Later, he expands his trio to an octet with trumpeters
Giveton Gelin and
Jon Lampley, as well as saxophonists
Patrick Bartley and
Tivon Pennicott, for a dynamically robust ensemble performance of
Monk's classic "Round Midnight." The same group also sticks around for a lively version of
Batiste's own modal-tinged title track. While
Batiste has long been recognized for his charisma and cross-pollinated sound, with
Anatomy of Angels he spotlights his richly textured jazz chops. ~ Matt Collar