Dr. John and Nicholas Payton Debut "The Spirit of Satch" Tribute to Louis Armstrong at Sym
New Orleans legend and cultural icon Dr. John makes his Symphony Center Presents (SCP) Jazz series debut on Friday, November 18, at 8:00 p.m. with a program entitled “The Spirit of Satch.” This musical tribute celebrates legendary Crescent City trumpeter and vocalist Louis Armstrong and features Dr. John on vocals and piano, fellow New Orleans native Nicholas Payton on trumpet and Musical Director Sarah Morrow on trombone.
Dr. John was inspired to record 2014’s critically acclaimed Ske-Dat-De-Dat: The Spirit of Satch when Louis Armstrong—aka Satch or Satchmo—came to him in a dream and told him: "Do my music, your way." Co-produced and arranged by Dr. John's Musical Director Sarah Morrow, the recording featured 13 quintessential Armstrong hits and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Jazz Chart. The fresh arrangements of Armstrong songs including "I've Got the World on a String,” "Sweet Hunk O' Trash," “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child” and more extend to the live show where Dr. John, Morrow and Payton are joined by a horn section of Chicago-based musicians.
Dr. John is a six-time Grammy® Award-winning musician and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee. Known throughout the world as the embodiment of New Orleans music, Dr. John’s career began in the 1950's when he wrote and played on some of the greatest records to come out of his home town, including recordings by Professor Longhair, Art Neville, Joe Tex and Frankie Ford. He headed to Los Angeles in the 1960's as a session musician, playing on albums by Sonny and Cher, Van Morrison, Aretha Franklin and The Rolling Stones. During that time he launched his solo career, developing the mystical persona of Dr. John, The Night Tripper. His 1968 album Gris-Gris introduced his blend of voodoo mysticism, funk, rhythm & blues and psychedelic rock mingled with his New Orleans roots.
Multi-instrumentalist and trumpet master Nicholas Payton was hailed a virtuoso before he finished high school. A New Orleans native, Payton made his major-label recording debut as a leader with From This Moment (Verve). After 10 major label albums Payton began recording on his own imprint, Paytone Records ™. His recording Sketches of Spain features a live concert performance of the iconic Miles Davis-Gil Evans collaboration and was dubbed one of the best albums of 2013 by the Chicago Tribune. Payton spans a multitude of musical genres having composed and arranged, performed and recorded with his own groups in many settings, including solo, duo, trio, quartet, quintet, sextet, 21-piece big band, as well as full orchestra in his 2012 composition, The Black American Symphony.
Tickets for all Symphony Center Presents Jazz series concerts can be purchased by phone at 800-223-7114 or 312-294-3000; online at cso.org, or at the Symphony Center box office: 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60604.
Discounted student tickets for select concerts can be purchased, subject to availability, online in advance or at the box office on the day of the concert. For group rates, please call 312-294-3040.
Artists, programs and prices are subject to change.
Symphony Center Presents Jazz
Friday, November 18, at 8:00 p.m. Dr. John: The Spirit of Satch featuring Special Guest Nicholas Payton
Dr. John, piano and vocals Nicholas Payton, special guest trumpet Sarah Morrow, musical director and trombone Jamie Kime, guitar Roland Guerin, bass Herlin Riley, drums Telmary, vocals
With Guests:
Victor Garcia, trumpet Mark Olen, trumpet Eric Schneider, alto saxophone Steve Eisen, tenor saxophone Jerry DiMuzio, baritone saxophone
Tickets: $36 - $112