Mahalia Jackson @ Newport Jazz Festival 1958

[skylerw1ful]

I can watch this all day. She's my favorite singer.

[ayelyds]

No one sings the Our Father like Mahalia. I'm so blest to hear this. Thank you

[16versace]

she is so modest............

[wyzz69]

What a voice this lady was given by our Lord. You can truly see in the crowds reaction when she begins to sing 'The Lord's Prayer' that even they understand they are in the presence of great talent and true commitment. Loved it!

[cbendersf]

Notice how far back she stands from the mike. Awesome.

[revpgesq]

brown, white, black, red, yellow, ....we are all the same in that we have no hope of keeping up with Mahalia :-D whenever she claps, that is the seal of the authority of the Holy Spirit over her singing! Amen.

[Billiemorejazz19]

jazz on a summer's day <3 i love her, i love this festival jazzzzzz ;)

[bobobekker]

Gospel is Holy Blues

[urgrad03]

That pianist is doing almost as much for my spirit as Mahalia... wonderful!

[Mom1910]

Mahalia touches my soul, and that piano player is fantastic.God blessed two singers with a gift from above....Mahalia and Bing Crosby

[TsalagiAgvnage]

No microphone necessary. Love her love her love her

[cbendersf]

Why hasn't this been viewed at least a million times?

[HammerToneAmps]

The name of the first song is "Walk over God's Heaven".

[determination9995757]

Bless God for Mahalia...I know she received many jewels and diamonds in heaven for singing to these types of crowds in that year...in that year, white people just did not respect black folk whatsoever, unless you were entertaining them, and barely then. This was a jazz festival. Those white folk did not go there to hear her. She was just in the line up. Bless God for his Holy Spirit that she may have endured racially behind the scenes.  Look at what Fantasia said happened to her. Praise God

[hankaaron1961]

@determination9995757 that is so wrong on so many levels that I don't know where to begin.

[toniwhite12]

FROM 6:12 TO 6:16 SHE LOOKED SO CUTE WHEN SHE SAID THAT LOL SO HUMBLE! :)

[carterclone070]

e! masxalh tou jackson... dld... ase me!

[Tenortalker]

Just look at the joy Mahalia's singing brought to this huge crowd and then see how moved they are by The Lord's Prayer. Never to be forgotten. Her ministry still speaks today.

[dlbalmer]

I really wonder what Shirley Caesar and Albertina Walker thought about Mahalia and the title of "Queen of Gospel"?

[jamminondakeys]

@dlbalmer Mahalia was Albertina Walker's mentor. Albertina has said herself that she did not assume the title "Queen of Gospel" until Mahalia Jackson passed.

[AWTD]

@dlbalmer Mahalia was the Word made song for those stolen from Africa.

[aubamot]

BRAVO BRAVO BRAVO THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST.....

[bluesmeister2006]

This performance is one of her greatest, she is filled with the Holy Spirit.

Speaking of her pianist, I worked for many years with Long John Baldry, as his pianist, who loved Mahalia, and Mildred Falls. Years before I had the position, it was filled by Elton John. Long John encouraged Elton to learn her style on the piano, and the Gospel sounds you hear from his piano were inspired by Mildred.

[Mundharp]

Love it!

Who was the FANTASTIC piano player?

[hankaaron1961]

@Mundharp Mildred Falls, who accompanied Mrs. Jackson throughout her career.

[michaelrowedtheboat]

I never grow tired of listening to this beautiful woman, God bless you and your family....amen

[cbendersf]

This is an awesome gem. Thank you jammonondakeys!

[TeslaGenius]

I can not stop listening to her

[pauletteemechete]

Mahalia Jackson has the most powerful and angelic voice I've ever heard in my life, It's as if I can feel her inside me and she makes me cry and I feel closer to God and I am so happy to hear this wonderful music, thank you so much!!!^_^

[treemonisha2006]

She looks to strength from GOD almighty before she sings every song. 

[gospel57]

This is my favourite Song...you just feel the joy and vibe come out of it....you can dance all night!!! God is Good!!!

[hankaaron1961]

At 1:50, Mahalia is way off the mic, but her voice is heard powerfully.

[antnee1980]

Mildred Falls is wearing that piano out..Does anyone have any info on her as far as if she is still alive or what she did after Mahalia's death?

[1joker88]

@antnee1980

Sadly Ms. Mildred passed a few months after Mahalia did.

[antnee1980]

I have this cd and I play it out like 50 years later... 

[svenjone]

She´s a wonder! Absolutely different compared to others and deeply honest in what she´s singing. Unique" is an understatement! Good Bless Mahalia!

[LuizPagan]

Please notice that rockin piano taking things into "dreamtime" as some audience members dance with joy. That is the great Mildred Falls making you forget if its Saturday night or Sunday morning!

[antonnina]

pa que cantaba muy bacano no como ahora que solo hay cantantes pero pa mamar gallo

[LuizPagan]

... and Mildred Falls rollin them barrel house blues all up and down the keyboard!!!! Didn't it rain chilren??!! Mahalia brought down the house and closed the show! Huh!

[LuizPagan]

... and Mildred Falls rollin them barrel house blues all up and down the keyboard!!!! Didn't it rain chilren??!!

[LuizPagan]

... and Mildred Falls rollin them barrel house blues all up and down the keyboard!!!! Didn't it rain chilren??!!

[fctorino]

Did I see a child and her mother smiling and enjoying Mahalia Jackson's singing? Did I see people dance in the aisles? Yeah? Glory to God, then. Glory in the Highest.

[carolinaguy321]

These children in the the presence of someone who was obviously annoited(sp?). Whether or not they were dancing or not, that made a connection with Mahalia. Fundementalist are so annoying. I would have danced to, that music, that powerful voice, who knows, God is mysterious. Some of those kids may have been reached that night through their dancing, being in the presence of someones music that is annointed. Fundamentalist (rolling eyes)

[Billinindiana]

@carolinaguy321 I understand your frustration with limited perspective; be patient and wait for the coming of a higher consciousness of people.  The rests outside the box.

[evangelistval]

She's rockin in the Holy Ghost power and those poor kids are missing it out there dancing and smoking just rocking with the Devil! LOL

[AmericanPlatinum]

Oh those kids are more aware than you give them credit for - evangelistval, and the first order of telling other's about the truth is knowing it is available already to all.

[evangelistval]

You have a point and I am surely glad they were there to hear Mahalia Jackson. I believe if I were there at that age in my life would have changed me and brought me closer to Jesus. She just affects you that way.

[gapdweller]

What a real life blessing.

[LuizPagan]

I was say that that barrell house blues supporting her is a big part of the appeal of a Mahalia Jackson performance. This New Orleans native who migrated to Chicago, loved the sound of Bessie Smith. One of her most important collaborators was the Great Thomas Dorsey whose early career was as a BLUES man. They changed African American Gospel by rocking it with THE BLUES transgressively AND effectively. Lots of folks sang about Jesus, but Mahalia with Mildred Falls on the piano? Unbeatable!!!

[Billinindiana]

@LuizPagan Good post! People need to let go of the devil stuff and be like Mahalia. She knew her audience was diversified (Goreau: "Just Mahalia Baby", her friend and biographer). Mahalia chugged a few drinks herself, by the way.

[yokohlman]

The Lord wanted her to be a messenger.

[sharronandkev777]

"Alright...you make me feel like I'm a star..." Then she basically told the audience listen be quiet and listen to the Lord's Prayer...You gott ta be quiet now cause it's about Jesus....so hush....

God is teaching us through her....

[cjm608]

my god!!! bravo!!!!

[wollkopp1]

WHAT AN AMAZING PERSON!!! =D

God bless her!!!

[kennetti76]

Words fail me

[Nuudles12]

I was 7 years old when this happen and this song is a memory that is in my life today,and this one too. thank you so much for the memory lane.

[WoodeytheBigEyedOne]

This is one of my favorite video footages of her....her voice sounds so raw....this is one of the examples that she really didn't too much need a microphone.

[svenjone]

Still outstandning, more than 50 years afterwards. Singers like Mahalia need a lot to compete (an understatement). She´s of of the artist never to be forgotten, so much creating emotions and so much loved by the audicence. Lovely!

[alphashed]

It did not matter to Mahalia Jackson who she reached out to. Her spirit of love reached way out to a very young man in Michigan, only 12 years old, poor as dirt but I could hear, sense, feel the absolute power of this woman's vocal outreach. She blessed me as no other singer ever has before or since.

[fairfax17]

the true annoitting shines through. Mahalia is a gifted and loved gospel artist all over the world.

[anthonyberrot]

BEAUTIFUL

[bunissimo]

cumm sì bell!!

[teeeeeveeeee314]

I remember as a small boy five years after she made this performance, Mom would play this album over and over again of her Newport 58 performance and I LOVED to hear her voice! She's still the greatest solo singer I think I ever heard sing in my life!

[revdrf58]

This is the year I was born and this music is still alive and now I travel singing the songs of "the queen of gospel Mahalia Jackson"

[2THEBLUEANGEL8]

i live for her

[cw1310]

Even the white people are loving it. Including this white boy.

[dinasaur2]

Even this Greek Cypriot (me) is like it! lol...I use to listen to Mahalia when I was a kid. She is great!

[raekwon4]

why "even"? :D do U think all white people are so stupid that don't understand music?

[svenjone]

Well, a gospel singer above all others. Now and then. A gift to the audience worldwide.

[PoetiQAvenue]

she can be heard from a distance look how far she is from the mic at times...

[jdsthird]

The spirit moves people in different ways. Dancing, shouting, trembling, stuttering... you never know. God works in mysterious ways. He was glorified that night!

[atlblkprync1981]

They aint suppose to be dancing. I hope the turn into a pillar of salt!!

[jdsthird]

The spirit moves people in different ways. Dancing, shouting, trembling, stuttering... you never know. God works in mysterious ways. He was glorified that night!

[PoetiQAvenue]

damn lol

[cw1310]

Since when are you suppose to wish ill will, on others? All religions in the world, tell you that is wrong.

[dimitrisjazz]

there'a film called jazz on a sumer's day with all the stars from that festival

pure gold!!!

[ahayes1217]

Thank you for posting. Her voice and conviction were truly special.. a gift for us all.

[lehnrik]

Amazing performance, the whole documentary is fantastic!

[SophyaFromBrazil]

(06:15) You ARE A STAR, Mahalia !!!

Thank you jamminondakeys.

Music's god bless you :-)

[FantomRaspberyBlower]

Beautiful voice, one of the all time greatest and a wonderful predecessor to the great Gospel inspired voices of the 60's Soul era like Aretha Franklin Gwladys Knight etc.and .Lovely shots too of a mixed crowd enjoying a unfied experience(i.e. normality) Thank you so much for posting it - I am going to buy the DVD of this festival, it is to be cherished.

[swdanielson]

I'm so glad to see this. I remember years ago I bought this on CD and it was so obviously NOT live. Apparently, they made another version in studio and added in the crowd to simulate the actual event. The CD was good, but it wasn't "live" and I always wanted to experience the live performance. Thanks for posting!

[LuizPagan]

Mahalia brought the blues right down front before the Holy of Holies. Just like David danced naked before the holy or holies. Have mercy! There is this struggle within African American culture about the struggle between the sacred & profane. Think of Marvin Gaye for example. Mahalia transcended that paradigm & took the music & message to a place beyond and kept singing about Jesus. Amazing! Mahalia was as good as Bessie Smith, but didn't want that life. She made the blues sacred.

[valambiguous]

Ahhh Yes!! Ms. Jackson. She was the very best!

[raggedy]

Thank you so much for posting this! I wish there was a version of "A City Called Heaven" up from this concert, my favorite from the show.

[woonsocketrocket]

Three weeks b'fore my 15th b'day my beloved aunt and uncle took me to this very concert. You can't see it in the video but it was raining and I remember the complete stillness of the crowd. It was an awesome performance !

[jamminondakeys]

That's amazing that you were able to be a part of history.

[TitusJackson]

WOW, Im so jealous...lol

[michaeljames57]

@woonsocketrocket

How lucky you are to have seen Ms Mahalia I would have loved to have seen her but as I lived a world apart I was born then but not old enough to travel if I was I would have traveled the world to see The World's Greatest Gospel singer.

God Bless,Michael-James AKA MJ...Sydney Australia....

[aarfeld]

@woonsocketrocket: Taking place four months before my birth--I wasn't there. But I sure wish I could have been there. :-)

[khalil4ulove]

@woonsocketrocket Please share some more of your precious memories of this great "preacher"!!!!!!

[esoterica77]

A-maaaaaaaaaazing!

[blbrbo]

great!

brilhante!

bravíssima!

[dreamboynyc2]

I'm sure Miss Mahalia is singing lead in God's mass choir in Heaven!!

[mothj]

earth... i do have the dvd of Jazz on a summer's day...it is great....just today my "new yorker" magazine came and had a column about Anita O'Day and the JonaSD dvd.....page 21....there is now a documentary due august 15..titled "anita o'day .Life of a Jazz Singer"....should be great. mothj ps...her performance was one of the highlights of the 1958 newport festival......as said before her dress,hat, and sexy body language was about as sexy as one could get in 1958. plus the singing....

[mothj]

i attended this 1958 show at Newport...my pregnant wife and i drove from tennessee in our 1958 Volvo....

saw everybody....to me the highlight was the

singing of miss Mahalia Jackson...the Lords Prayer..we were standing in the rain by the

back gate....and she stilled the crowd....we

stood silently in the rain in awe of this voice....then the end and everyone cheered and

then ran for the exits....Newport was great in

1959 too but not as good as this 1958 festival

mothj

[jamminondakeys]

I can only imagine what that was like. It's great to hear memories like this.

[earthquakepills]

Do you have the documentary "Jazz on a Summer's Day" by Bert Stern? That's where this is from, plus lots of fantastic performances, Anita O'Day, Louis Armstrong, Dinah Washington, the list goes on...

[khalil4ulove]

@mothj Please share some more of your memories and experiences of this great artist.

[kkx9965]

Thank you so very much for posting this treasure; I am greatly moved. I grew up in the 60s listening to the live recording on vinyl (Newport 1958 Mahalia Jackson) as my Mom would often play it. The power and great emotion of Mahalia Jackson's voice, her hand claps, etc., could be felt but to actually now be able to see it is just prime. I hope there is video of 'His Eye is on the Sparrow' from this same festival. My Mom would have so enjoyed this; she died in 2006.

[jamminondakeys]

I'm not sure if there is a video of "His Eye is on the Sparrow."

[MAYDAYES]

You are a star Mahalia. I give you ***** of them, everytime you sing... :)

[stacyblue1980]

She helps make everything alright. Always comforting to hear her. Even when shes upbeat and shoutin'. PROOF of God's work on earth.

[juliusbjr]

Its amazing to watch this..I cant help but notice and am almost afraid to say this, but am I the only one noticing that she is really singing and praying for these people who see her as just entertainment.

[jamminondakeys]

That's is why I love this video. and she sings about Noah and the flood trying to send them a message.

[michaelrowedtheboat]

Thuroughly enjoyable, it was like I was there, what a beautiful woman..I can't wait to get to the Promised Land to meet her!Amen.

[robertantonnyc]

Just amazing. Thanks for posting man. I'm just back from Miami Beach. Hope all is well with you.

[jamminondakeys]

All is going pretty good.  Hope the same is for you.