American Symphony (2023)

I'm rather new to Jon Batiste -- I was aware of him as Colbert's former bandleader, but only got to know him recently through a YouTube video where he listens to Chappell Roan for the first time (below). Gary and I became instant fans of this joyous, incisive, and full-of-life presence on that introduction and watched several more videos of him immediately.

This documentary covers a very taxing time in Batiste's life. He's hard at work on an original symphony to be performed at Carnegie Hall -- which, alone, would be enough to fill a plate. But his wife is also suffering a recurrence of her rare cancer, fracturing his attention and muting his natural exuberance.

But, still, his essence shines through. He's human and he has his bad days, but he is fundamentally a man whose heart is open to the universe and others. An inspiration. Though, to be completely honest, I did not care for his symphony at all.

 

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