StLJN Saturday Video Showcase:"Lift Every Voice and Sing"

As the USA observes Independence Day weekend, let's take a look at some jazz interpretations of "Lift Every Voice and Sing," a song often referred to as the "Black national anthem."

"Lift Every Voice..." began in 1900 as a poem by James Weldon Johnson, and subsequently was set to music by his brother, John Rosamond Johnson, and first performed in 1905 for the anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth. Over the years, it has been done by singers both famous and unknown and as a instrumental, and while it has never been a commercial "hit" per se, it's become a standard that has proved adaptable to a variety of musical settings.

You can see a relatively straightforward vocal version of the song by Ray Charles in the first embed window up above.

After the jump, you can see three more vocal interpretations, by Aretha Franklin, Jazzmeia Horn, and Lisa Fischer (accompanied by Jason Moran on piano).

Next are three versions by solo instrumentalists, starting with guitarist Russell Malone, followed by St. Louis' own Scooter Brown on alto sax, and then harpist Brandee Younger.

Finally, there are three very different versions for larger ensembles, beginning with one from New Orleans' Preservation Hall Jazz Band; followed by pianist Orrin Evans' Captain Black Big Band, recorded at Smalls in New York City and featuring vocalist Miles Griffith; and finally one by trumpeter and East St. Louis native Russell Gunn's Royal Krunk Jazz Orkestra, as recorded by an audience member at the 2019 Atlanta Jazz Festival.

You can see the rest of today's videos after the jump...