Specific Performances I attended
- A Jazz Performance broadcast featuring the Jazz Maestro, Louis Armstrong, on BBC’s Show of the Week. The performance was conducted on September 22, 1968, in London.
- A broadcast of an Alicia Keys Live Concert conducted on November 2, 2017, in Basel, Switzerland.
Instrumentation
The performances used almost similar sets of instrumentation together with vocals that played a major part in developing the music. The Jazz event featured a piano, a drum set, a trombone, a trumpet, and a bass. On the other hand, Alicia Keys’ performance featured some of the above instruments and additional instrumentation, including guitars, arrangers, and a DJ Kit. The instruments majorly helped in creating the music and sweetening the performances.
Solos
Unlike Louis Armstrong’s performance, Alicia Keys’ concert lacked a well-defined solo performance. In the Jazz performance, Louis Armstrong’s pianist Marty Napoleon takes on the keys and performs a jaw-dropping recital accompanied by the bass and some of the horns. Alicia Keys’ concert has a few instances where the instrumentalists take the lead, especially the solo guitarists and the pianists. Napoleon’s performance is catchy, especially how he skillfully hits the keys, showing true mastery of his craft. I liked the recital, as it seemed like some bridge during the performance and created a good feeling of Jazz music. I also enjoyed Alicia Keys’ constant take-over with her piano. However, I was not too fond of the fact that the DJ Kit was used in place of actual drumming in most cases. It would have been much better and entertaining had there been physical drums accompanying the other instruments. The solo performances and the instrumentation sessions in the respective performances were entertaining.
Comparison of the Performances
The songs selected for comparison from the two performances are Louis Armstrong’s “Blueberry Hill” and “What a Wonderful World” and Alicia Keys’ “Girl on Fire” and” No One.”
Louis Armstrong’s “Blueberry Hill” v. Alicia Keys’ “No One”
The two performances are notable for the emotion they build in the audience through their respective tempos. Louis can create a very uplifting level of emotions, especially with his smile and how he pours out the song’s lyrics. His performance, accompanied by the instruments, elicits a nostalgic feeling. The performance has a slower tempo, and a simple rhythm since the focus is on word delivery. Additionally, there is an occasional playing of trumpet and the trombone. Alicia Key’s “No One” picks up from the already charged “Girl on Fire” and immediately charges the crowd into a frenzy. The song makes the crowd ecstatic, especially with Alicia’s vocal abilities, and has a faster tempo compared to Louis’. The two songs create a powerhouse in the artists, with Louis seen as charming and witty, while Alicia is an energetic performer and strong vocalist. The songs stimulate feelings of love and uplift emotions, further leading the crowds into ecstatic moments.
Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World” v. Alicia Keys’ “Girl on Fire”
The two songs are some of the most widely known and notable compositions of the individual artists in their musical careers. Louis is always on point with his signature smile and facials in the rendition of “What a Wonderful World,” which makes the song uplifting, creates a sense of nostalgia, a sense of beauty, and joy. With the slow tempo, Louis is able to blend in a regular flowing rhythm, making the song not only beautiful to listen to but delivers its message according to the title of the song. Alicia always charges the crowd with her piano skills and stage presence with her signature “Girl on Fire.” Alicia develops a lavishly inspiring and uplifting emotion in a slow to blazing tempo, leaving me yearning for more. Like in previous performances, Louis and Alicia Keys presented their musicianship in a subtle manner that easily moves the crowd while simultaneously taking the audience’s emotions high.
Overall Presentation
Alicia’s piano and Louis’ trumpet skills are always notable in their performances, matched by their vocal capabilities. The way they sang carried my emotions away, especially through exciting feelings of love, joy, some sadness, and a celebration mood, especially in Keys’ performances. The success of the emotional impact materialized from the artist’s ability to deliver lyrics with the right facials and beautifully to the crowd’s delight.
Overall Experiences
The performances changed my perspectives, especially my attitude toward Rock music, as I have traditionally been a Jazz aficionado. The shows gave me a firsthand experience of some of the best musicians in the respective genres, unlike in past experiences where I have encountered upcoming artists doing covers of mainstream music. The performances were also different in terms of instrumentation and how the audience reacted to the artists.
Place and People
I agree that the audience was charged and always appreciative of every action from the two performances. An example is when Alicia greets some audience members, and the crowd goes into a frenzy. Louis’ video does not show the audience, but people are happy and ecstatic from the response that can be heard. Louis’ stage is simple, while Alicia has a whole stage set with light effects to enhance the mood. Each audience responded accordingly to the music being performed and the respective musicians.
Best and Worst Features
The two performances were top-notch, and I felt the vibe of genres coming to life through the artistry and delivery. Each performance managed to have a beautiful blend of singing and instrumentation. However, both Louis and Alicia failed in two places. Being a Jazz performance, I believe Louis could have included a saxophone on set, and Alicia would have had a physical drummer on stage. Nevertheless, the artists achieved the goal of beautiful performances.
References
Alicia Keys – Full Concert Live 2017 [Video]. (2018, January 7). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sn_7ZqmZEo&list=PLaufKlukaVudqse_KnO0u0eDQAb_rvkKH&index=24
Louis Armstrong – Show of The Week (1968) [Video]. (2016, March 8). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtqTiTXhdk0&list=PLaufKlukaVufTS0mVkF1ddMEnn8GUKXpn&index=1
