Cassandra Wilson - St. James Infirmary

[topdog1944]

Lou Rawls is great too. I heard him sing this in 1965.

[Akosuaification]

I love her, and I love this song. I first heard it when I was in high school and I've loved Cassandra every since.

[jkeplinger]

Nothing but love. Awesome!



[runtsworth]

Stop arguing and enjoy it. Great band and singer.

[clenbullard]

That's a different approach. Rewrote the lyrics quite a bit but hey, make it your own.

[crescentrose]

what a friggin tight band wow...

[wsj0301]

@crescentrose yes!

[howahya]

Man, the pianist, Jonathan Batiste, takes it to another level!!!

Cassandra Wilson is not only an amazing singer but a genius of orchestration.

[jfahr]

holy shit, this version gives me goose bumps, proving another time what an exceptional musician Cassandra Wilson is - plus the tight and expressive band, to give full credit

[rockrock3090]

she looks so fucked up...but her voice is still the deepest! Thats a real Artist!

[kansas66204]

wow totally amazing. cassandra wilson knows her band plays a big part of her success- ( so does sade)

a good band will do that 4 u. ( just ask sade)

also the 4 people who dislike this . did not mean it " what they really meant to say was "DIS i like "

[misztong]

what an energy! but the vocals ruin it after the intro, I agree! That guitar just kills me, man

[phillyvinilli]

Looks like Celine Dion watched this 4 times and was jealous

[kansas66204]

@phillyvinilli i agree 100%

[rwellsrwells]

My first thought was what the hell does that intro have to do with this vocal. Listened again, it was also my second thought. These guys are great, and the instrumentals are hot, but so wrong for the vocal.

[lsdvine]

sex in a video...attitude like nina

[KatzenImNebel]

Wow! Love it!

[scottmontreal]

I saw her for the fourth time at the 2008 Montreal Jazz Festival doing this set, and they were outstanding, really one of the best jazz performances I've had since the old days of Mingus, etc.. Great musicians, great improv, and great feeling. Cassandra is unmatched among today's singers in my opinion.

[wsj0301]

@scottmontreal well said - i agree wholeheartedly!

[Bwaltar]

What a great version. Love all these musicians!

[12barsoul]

wonderful job of mixing the blues with modern jazz. Cassandra's awesome.

[jenrevais123]

Juste un pur moment de bonheur

[ejstoufflet]

woah. how can you not like herlin riley, reginald veal or jonathan batiste?

[13loomisst]

Lotta chatter here.

That geetar intro was too much. Smokin. The band is tight. Cassandra takes care of business. Thanks very much.

[ojahmediagroup]

Dear Mr. Lafforte, you've been hammered to death in this forum. Perhaps you should just move on, or direct us all to your great version of this great song. Peace out.

[wsj0301]

@ojahmediagroup

Is this performance available on DVD or CD? Would love to have a copy of this...?

[Lafforte]

As for your "creative writing" pretensions, if I were you, I would ask for my money back from the people who gave you that 'creative writing' course.

"Unique is sometimes an acquired taste."!!!!!????? Your attempt at being deep and profound is not even cute. Go do your homework and listen to your favorite Britney Spears. (By the way, I have no idea about Britney's music, but I'm sure you have all her CDs. What would you recommend?)

[natteaap]

ghehehe, you're so full of it. You're really pissed of aren't you. Someone actually did contradict you and you can't stand it. Funny.

Good luck playing your infirmary mate

[Lafforte]

If you pour tomato sauce in a curry, you've now ruined an Indian dish, and you certainly don't have an Italian dish either. The guitar intro is really cool shit...for completely the wrong song. Lots of funky songs could be boosted beautifully with his funky shit, but not St. James Infirmary. Even a song like Sunny (Martino version), could be introduced with that kind of stuff, but St. James? No way. Bad taste. Wilson is a great artist, and her band is likewise. She just f....ks this badly

[natteaap]

F.Y.I some curry's are with tomatosauce. Especially with tomatosauce. But that is a whole new discussion. ;o)

[ejstoufflet]

bruh how can you compare curry and any indian dish to jazz. i dont care about the point your trying to make. Jazz is red beans and rice that your momma cooks so well and a bowl of gumbo. Next time say " If you aint go no gumbo without the Roux"

I believe you dont know the "essence" of jazz.

[bugihugi88]

soo dirrrty sound... :)

[bugihugi88]

Wondeful performace! Specially the guitar....

[jnivard]

This is good

[ringostreehouse]

Brilliant performance by all of them, imo. The thing about jazz is if you don't like a particular take on a particular song, let it go and find something more to your taste. Thankfully, there are enough variations in music for everyone to find something that touches his or her soul. But Cassandra Wilson does it for me consistently.

[Lafforte]

Your kind of coffee shop wisdom sounds cool, but it's just a failed attempt at worldly wisdom. Cassandra is good and does good stuff, but here she totally trashes one of my favorite songs, and of course it's more than appropriate for people like me to speak up. Not only is St. J. Inf. considered one of the all-time great blues songs, but it brilliantly tells about the NO jazz funeral. With her ridiculously funked-up, scatterbrain version, the whole message is lost. All that remains is a funk jam

[ringostreehouse]

Failed attempt at worldly wisdom? More like basic common sense: if you don't appreciate her take on the piece, don't listen to it, move on to something you do like.

[alafia999]

Excuse me for interrupting your adolescent drivel, but do you realize what she's doing in this version? I'm descended from generations of New Orleans musicians and I have also had the pleasure of performing this song too many times to mention. She has changed it's usage by turning it into the song sung by the second-line after the funeral. It is not sung as a dirge! If you need further clarification, please feel free to ask. I for one find this version quite refreshing, extraordinarily creative!

[MoniqueMijnals]

Beautiful intro! beautiful vocals, the band is all tight together what else can I say it is brilliant. Cassandra you are great!

[Lafforte]

Wierd intro, weird version of one of the most powerful tunes ever. Yech!!!

[rethlin]

No, weird comment, weird post...brilliant version!

[natteaap]

that proves that you should stick to britney spears. That intro is weird, I grant you that. But once you swallow the first taste, the rich flavours start a sweetness in your mouth that makes you love it.

If a guy can play that kind of out of tune sounds on purpose, he truly is a great artist. Connect that to the greatness of cassandra's voice and you have something unique. Unique is sometimes an acquired taste.

[Lafforte]

You sound like one of these silly little suburban teacher's pets who get the notion that Jazz is cool and from there have no judgement at all.

I've likely performed St. James Infirmary more times than you've listened to it, and I would gladly discuss Bird's improvisation concepts and you would likely not have a fucking clue what I was talking about. A song has a soul, and while every performer must interpret it his/her own style, changing it this drastically destroys its essence.

[natteaap]

oh right, now I see. YOU performed it, so YOU are the greenwich meridian of jazz. Excusez moi. You're still venting air, but not making sense mate.

You may have performed it more then I have listened to it, that does not mean that I don't recognize the quality of it, instead of let's-stick-to-what-I'm-used-t­o-hear.

Sorry man, no argument.

[Lafforte]

You understand nothing. My reaction was to your little snotty-nose 'nouveau jazz expert' insult that I listen to Britney because I disagreed with you. My point was simply to show you that I've been listening to Jazz and Blues for a long time and I know my way around those idioms, likely much better than you. There are lots of great versions out there (Bobby Bland, etc) and my point is not that hers is new. I love new like everybody else; her version destroys the essence. But you'll never get it

[rethlin]

Sounds like Lafforte is a frustrated little guitarist. He'll never get the brilliance of this version. He's too jealous and insecure. I love the way Wilson's band has turned this traditional dirge into the song you sing on the way back from the funeral. It's a fabulous twist! The musicianship is awesome. Get a life, Lafforte...or at the very least, an ear!!!!

[natteaap]

I couldn't have said it better. Don't try anymore Lafforte we are not worthy of your mastery, we do not understand jazz the way you do, we do no speak no good langwage massa, we only good to nod head in your approval.

[MrJsmoov123]

jazz is all about improvisation and change. I too am a musician (from new orleans) and can maintain an appreciation for all versions of this song. Its like tossing out Jason Moran's version of Body and Soul in favor of Benny Goodmans or Coleman Hawkins version-each have merit, just different takes. Just appreciate the artists view, talent, and take on the standard. This kind of interpretation keeps jazz alive and fluid.

[ManyGodz]

What a voice ! Whatta Band ! That man got DOWN on that Telecaster ! BadASS!

[desertrat1950]

Love this artist.

[DulBeat]

He's playing the shit out of that guitar.