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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.ย. 2024
- July 2, 2018 | Rodney Carmichael -- Staying true to his own musical vision has always come first for PJ Morton. So when he expressed his desire to squeeze a 10-piece string section behind the Tiny Desk for his three-song performance, we were more than happy to oblige him.
Morton showed off the soulful Fender Rhodes chops that helped him earn a mentor in Stevie Wonder and membership to Maroon 5, while backed by percussion, bass and the same Matt Jones Orchestra that accompanies him on his soulful solo releases, Gumbo and Gumbo Unplugged.
He began prepping what would become his noteworthy pot of musical stew after moving back home to New Orleans from L.A. a couple of years ago. The preacher's kid with the gospel roots wound up collecting two 2018 Grammy nominations for music from Gumbo, his fourth studio LP. Ironically, those industry accolades came as a direct result of Morton choosing to go his own way.
"So many people didn't want me to be myself," he told the Tiny Desk crowd during the intro to "Claustrophobic," a song about the attempts major labels made to box him in. "But I decided I was going to be PJ no matter what people told me and tried to get me to do."
They tried some strange things, too. One record exec interested in signing him even suggested pairing Morton with popular West Coast hip-hop producer DJ Mustard. "It was so far off base," he told NPR's Michel Martin last January. Instead, he started his independent music label, Morton Records, with the vision of creating a new Motown in his hometown.
New Orleans' musical lineage seasons the entire set of his Tiny Desk performance, including the second song, "Go Thru Your Phone," on which Morton's joined by backing vocalists The Amours. All together, it made for a total of 15 musicians squeezed behind Bob Boilen's desk - not to mention Matt Jones, conducting off-camera. The industry may not have seen the vision, but from where we stood it was a perfect fit.
SET LIST
"Claustrophobic"
"Go Thru Your Phone"
"First Began"
MUSICIANS
PJ Morton(lead vocals/rhodes), Brian Cockerham (bass), Ed Clark (percussion), Matt Jones (Matt Jones Orchestra Conductor), Clayton Penrose-Whitmore (Violin), Arianne Urban (Violin), Olya Prohorova (Violin), Alexandria Hill (Violin), Danielle Taylor (Violin), Istvan Loga (Viola), Caitlin Adamson (Viola), Seth Woods (Cello), Malik Johnson (Cello), Victor Ray Holms (Bass), Jakiya Ayanna (background vocals), Shaina Aisha (background vocals)
CREDITS
Producers: Rodney Carmichael, Morgan Noelle Smith; Creative Director: Bob Boilen; Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Videographers: Morgan Noelle Smith, Khun Minn Ohn, Maia Stern, Bronson Arcuri; Production Assistants: Catherine Zhang, Téa Mottolese; Photo: Eslah Attar/NPR.
![[LIVE] MCHOICE & MINT AWARDS 2024 at TRUE ICON HALL, ICONSIAM](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/wMewUeT5nbY/mqdefault.jpg)
Want to play your own Tiny Desk concert? Unsigned musicians, enter the 2024 Tiny Desk Contest between Jan. 23 and Feb. 21. Learn more: npr.org/tinydeskcontest.
He sounds like he could quite possibly be the son of Stevie Wonder, the grandson of Ray Charles and first cousin to Musiq Soulchild
NINER NATION except that his dad is actually a better singer than him cut from the black church tradition. He came up almost same time as muziqsoulchild too
Bishop Morton is good people
You can hear his Gospel upbringing.
Lol you sound like you grew up with these folks the way their names roll off your moby. Can you hook me up with them?
Kene Ezeike Bishop Morton is not a better singer than him, lol. They have a completely different style and Bishop Morton doesn’t do runs like that.
I can hear that he studied Stevie and Donny Hathaway. Hes definitely on my playlist after this performance
You can hear those influences in his sound.
JJ Williams yeppp
OMG JJWilliams, stay out of my head! I immediately thought that if Steve Wonder and Donny Hathaway had a musical baby, it would be this dude!
I was about to post that the closest vocal comparisons, (when tying him to one of soulful greats) has to be Donny.
Glad I checked first and very glad you posted this. The first, most popular post, had what felt like 30 different names ranging from music soul child (great producer ..never a singer) to Marvin Gaye (quite possibly the most silky voice ever created through genetics). None of the suggested comparisons where close to the mark.
However Donny Hathaway; ..now we have something smile about.
Great ear.
JJ Williams He’s been on mine for like 10 years!!
As an artists its scary that people with this much raw talent and creativity aren't huge
Calm Studios everyone has their own time and place to shine. Fame will come.
So sad indeed
Calm Studios , the industry doesn’t like to promote real artists anymore. They want Autotune simps and trash like Nikki and Cardi B to continue the low frequency music with negative agendas.
its crazy dude
Calm Studios Extremely scary!
Whoever books the talent needs a raise immediately!!!!
AGREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I totally agree
For real!!!
His voice reminds me of Christmas
Mitsy He just announced he’s releasing a Christmas album THIS YEAR! 🙌🏾
Yes. This 3rd song is definitely make me feel like Christmas... all warm and happy.
It's his feel good authenticity.
Mitsy I can get that actually! lol
Just need the coldness and snow , got the fan blowing on me
My cousin is playing RIGHT BEHIND PJ MORTON!!!!!!
My brother is on string bass 😍
Cool!! Which oneee
_sDubz_ the beautiful bald lady with glasses right behind PJ ❤️
What’s her IG?
@@malloobasi1611 @dcomposedchicago
Goddammit even when PJ talk it's still on tune.
😁😉😀
😂🤣😂🤣
😄😄😄😄
No, God BLESS it! 😇🙏✝️💛
People who say music these days are trash need to stop listening to only mainstream pop music and try to discover great artists like this guy.
Well said.
Thank you again, NPR. Whoever is booking these great artists is the real MVP.
Actually, that's a good point. I have listened to a lot of these and I am never dissappointed. I wonder who is the guy booking these artist
Factsss!
Creative Director: Bob Boilen
@@joshlyon2478 Thanks Josh for the info. Thank you so much Bob Boilen, you are indeed giving us awesome experiences! Peace and blessings.
"How Deep is Your Love" w/ Yebba is on repeat
Love love his version
Facts
Totally AWESOME!
😊😊
This man has a string orchestra. Chills.
stylecollective exactly
Exactly!
respects his audience
And 1 Grammy later.... Thank you for being yourself and not conforming to this industry’s standards. You’re a jewel Sir! Salute!!!
PJ's Music is medicine for my soul.
I agree!!
Agreed
Body & Soul
never heard this guy before, the music was organic, he got a new fan
Come through string section!!!! 🎻
Come all the way through!!!!
Yes sis they doin that shit
All the way through!!!! :-)
Right!!!!
Go listen to gumbo live. It’s crazy
“First began” has got me crying. I don’t know if this song is evoking pain from lack of such a love, tears of joy to still have hope for such a love or just euphoric tears to experience this musical blessing. I believe it is all of the above.
Tears here too!
Totally relate!
It’s the chords he uses. They evoke emotion. He uses the same ones as Stevie Wonder and Musiq Soulchild
I had the same reaction when I heard it the first time
Begonia S he wrote first began for his wife
Music that makes you realise you're smiling.
Indeed!!
I like that...
When PJ sing the truth about life and himself, he touched our hearts, and came to the place that he really deserved. Thank u for singing with your soul brother. So happy to witness your greatness in that generation.
You're doing yourself an injustice, if you don't have Gumbo Live in your album rotation... This man is the TRUTH!..
Yes indeed
What else do you think should be in the rotation? Been trying to find some more albums to listen to on the regular.
RunVarisRun never knew about this guy until now. Buying his album right now
@@ephascus8974 the live version is awesome
@@tomtom1373ify Brik.Liam - The Ascension LP is a must!
Look at these young people playing these strings! What a wonderful sight! PJ is simply in class by himself!
This is by far the coolest thing I've ever done
Are you all students?? You sound magnificent
most of us are professional freelancers. thank you!
You're so lucky... What a ripple!!!!
This is theawesome!! The strings are so dope.
Olya Prohorova you all have amazing talent
He conjures up an insanely dense atmosphere...life is worth it..
I like the whole Gumbo project he has. You can tell some of the string players are young and I love that he has allowed them the opportunity to showcase their amazing talent.
I will check it out.I didn't know him until today
And not the usual all white orchestra ....
I Love me some PJ Morton.!! AND THE FACT that Bishop Paul & Lady Morgan allowed their musically genius Son to blossom and not make him just do Gospel is so DOPE to me.!!! This is 🔥🔥🔥🔥
And a lot of people -new fans especially don’t know that.
I love maroon 5 but like can’t wait for pj to receive the appreciation and recognition he deserves
isis mafra Exactly!!!!
Those that love him tell him I bet he's aware lol
Lowkey might be 2nd most talented member of Maroon 5
D Robin PJ is definitely the most talented in M5
He just received a Grammy ! You're right on !
The strings are 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥!!! Love it!!!!
I swear to God bruh
i swear, lately these tiny desk been right! and right on time. dope..thanks npr music
Renesa Smith-Taylor AGREED!!!! #livemusic
Yes!! Always on right time
This
Stevie Wonder Jr. This man is criminally underrated.
YESS!! NEXT UP D'ANGELO
cheryl secioria nope
Please yesss
I feel like theres no chance he would but id give me left nut to see that
That is not likely. But what's even more unlikely is if he and Lauryn came together. Imagine That!
The strings composition on “First Began” brings tears to my eyes. Simply beautiful!
Me too!! It's so beautiful. It's a very special song
that song was born to have strings on it love the 2 step underscore too
Me too!
Beautiful orchestra repping every color and skill. Those 11 minutes blew me away.
Amen
Man you my dude. I'm from the old school. 63 years young. So many of my boys gone. Maurice White, Michael J. so many others. So refreshing to see God has not stopped producing Genius. Carry the torch brother, and carry it just being yourself. That's what James Brown did. His band was called the JB's. His dance was called the James Brown. He did him. DO YOU my brother, we need it. Peace
When Musiq Soulchild + D'Angelo + Stevie Wonder had a baby, it'd be PJ.
+ Glenn Lewis
Nope. He lives in his own space. True music maturity is letting artist live beyond comparisons and as individuals. Try it. Its not hard.
They sure did
Stop doing this childish mess. Each artist has their own individuality their own style, their own flavor they bring to the table he was writing for a lot of these artist so in a sense you do see him in their music but he is an individual try doing that. It’s like givin people their props for their hard work without comparing to someone else. That’s ignorance.
The instrumentation is killing me. This was a musical experience. My God! I am blown away every time I watch PJ.
I actually thought “First Began” was a random B-Side Stevie track when I heard it on the oldies radio station. PJ is the man 🙌🏿
I swear that there are people on TH-cam who just go around hitting the thumbs down on videos. How do you not like this!
didn't know 'go thru your phone' could sound so good live, my goodness. love that song.
Janelle Warner Same Here... check out PJ Morton live it is fire really fire ..... Album is on sale everywhere
Bunos.dia
Right!!! and Claustrophobia as well
PJ Morton. Anthony Hamilton. Glenn Lewis. Dailey ect. Amazing Talented men who are so underated in this wicked music industry.
Them strings and live instruments always get me! It's hard to go back to the studio version. PJ's Gumbo Unplugged TH-cam video Wil change your life lol
yessssss it will!!!
As much as I LOVE the studio version, the live version is just on another level. Especially because of the live instrumentation. Lawd!
The truth👆🏾
Changed mine. I cried.😭
Indeed it has changed my life!🙏🏾🙏🏾
THANK YOU Tiny Desk for apologizing him its a joy
Come on pizzicato intro to "Go Through Your Phone"....I live!!! 👏❤
Monica how are your guitar lessons coming?
I love his originality. No one sounds like him and that is a gift. Love all of his music!
A NEW ORLEANS GEM. ⚜️
love you pj! ❤️
Lynn W Mos Definitely
Lynn W
Absolutely...always good seeing someone from the N.O. representing us the right way. This brother definitely does that. ✊🏽
Lynn W Yes, indeed.
I'm late to the party here, but this brotha is BAD and so smooth. I want to personally salute whoever the the engineer is on these mixes for NPR. The sound quality is outstanding. Many kudos!! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
First Began is SO going to be my wedding song ❤
Organic Chic Boutique If I ever I get married he has to be there to sing that song.
The song brings tears to my eyes because it reminds me of my 1st born son who was 21 years old and murdered innocently in Richmond CA in 2018😓
That pizzicato is everything !!!
PJ´S ARRANGEMENTS ARE FROM OTHER WORLDS !
They really are.
NPR you keep surprising me and PJ Morton thank you for letting Claustrophobic be the first song! My fav!!!!! 😍
The coolness of PJ...okkkk,no no the singers, but them STRINGS...👏👏👏.
Soooooo Gooood!
I automatically liked the video without out watching it. Cause I already knew it was gonna be good.
I did the same with your comment
This album is SO IMPORTANT!!!
NPR Tiny Desk is where it is people!
PJ should do a collab with Tank and the Bangas .. That would be fire ;)
I approve this message!!!
Kenneth Benson omg I AGREE!!!
Brazil
Bruuuuuh, that would be gold!
OHHHHH man. Yes please.
Pj My Mannnn !!!!! Go listen to PJ ft YEBBA - How deep is your love !!!!!!
Jean-Frédéric Kouamé get the whole album is much better bruv
Jason Purba buying it now, respects my brother, absolutely loved this.
that track is DEEP
How did I miss him? I came upon this on accident but I'm glad I did!!
YEESSSSSS!
I’m like, legit tearing up at how good his music, soul and vibe is! Stevie and Glenn Lewis sound for sure...but a vibe all his own! Thanks for blessing us with your gifts sir...along with the beautiful orchestra!!!
Michael Whitfield so many ppl don’t even know who Glenn Lewis is. And I only fell in love with his voice because he sounds so much like Stevie. So now I have PJ.
Look 👀 at these young people playing these strings! What a beautiful sight! PJ is in class by himself!
Thank You, PJ Morton Happy Mother’s Day 2023…
😳Whoooo🤦🏾♀️-Just An Illusion…2023…
The worst thing about this Tiny Desk session is that it ended. PJ is so organic... don't change, bro!
BTW, can we give the engineer some? Crisp sound!
PJ Morton is just BAD, love Gumbo!!!!! I know Bishop Morton is so proud of his son, I am so proud of PJ!!!!!!!!!!
He has a very smooth and soulful sound!
one of the best performances of the last 100 years.
This has become my fave Tiny Desk performance this year by far.
Pj is the blueprint for musicians like me
I'm Late to the party...I am loving this guy. WOW PJ is incredible and I'm a NEW PERMANENT FAN.
PJ please last forever!!!
this man got so much soul in one voice
Still come back to this periodically PJ is rare
I've been following PJ Mortin since the coffee shop days underground music in Louisiana's kitchens😎 and alley way singing recording his track from the Gumbo album.
thats ill bro. im in nola all this year you got any spots where i can be seeing dudes like PJ perform?
We love you PJMorton❤🎤🎹❤🎤🎹❤🎤🎹❤🎤❤🎤🎹!!!!
Go PJ! Instant TinyDesk classic
Fender Rhodes is, was and will always be a smoothie for my ears
Im lovin this the last song oh wow the most beautiful wedding song.
It's just something about that Fender Rhodes that makes this sound other worldly, and when you put the Strings on top of the Fender Rhodes that makes it Heavenly
I totally agree with you!!
Oh snap! I hear Stevie, a bit of George Benson, a hint of Ramsey Lewis and something special that's all his own.
just hearing him now- 5 years after he did this concert, and immediately realizing it's some of the best music I've ever heard ...
PJ is on here with string accompaniment! Gotta love him!!!
Straight from Greater St. Stephens Full Gospel. Your dad is your gift.
I purchased both versions of Gumbo on vinyl😻. PJ, you Sir are the undisputed TRUTH!!! Standing ovation for the string section.
PJ Morton is a great artist...Minglewood Memphis TN Feb.14
PJ is such a phenomenal artist! I have gumbo on repeat everyday!
dessie1214 now go listen to his live album
@Mr E Thanks! I prefer the live album also
This man...amazed I'm alive to hear this
I stumbled across this video because I love this channel. And I was sitting down, needing background music but I had to stop to listen because I feel like I’ve heard his music before but I never have - it’s so soulful, really gives me the sensation of a warm chest like after you drink Jack daniels. So stunning
The best description of what it feels like to listen to this
Everything you said is true
I love PJ Morton! He's an amazing writer, producer, singer and musician.
I'm not understanding why this was only 11 minutes and 29 seconds long?!?! It could have been 3 hours and I would have gladly sat and watched (then rewatched it)! PJ is the truth and would get heavily wacked with my church handkerchief, the Amours and band could catch some wacks too!! The better something sounds, the more violent I become. 🤦🏽♀️ Long live soulful music created by passionate artists. 🙌🏾😍💜🎶🎵🎤
Cuz Tiny Desk concerts seem to be lunch break things for npr.
@@germyw But I've seen some that are like 20 - 30 mins boo. Maybe they leave it up to the discretion of the artist. 🤔
How can everything be so perfect like this ...
I looooooove this man. I could listen to PJ all day.
Pj is one of favs out his music has always been dope
The strings, vocals, keyboards, and general arrangements are spectacular.
Definitely
The Exceptionally Talented
Mr. PJ Morton
I'm speechless. For years my friends have been telling me to check out this man's music. I had no idea how talented this guy is.
I love this every time I listen to it. I do not care when it was recorded, I love PJ Morten.
96 people were so shocked they hit the wrong button
Anointed voice- you hear it even though he’s not singing gospel. That is what it is to be incredibly gifted and blessed. Music that oozes life! ❤ Going in! Why did he hv to go and make me cry!
amazing music don't you change bro
First Began is one of my favourite songs of all time
PJ is definitely the most talented songwriter of our time. You better get it!!
So glad you were obedient to your calling. Your music touches my soul deeply!❤
This dude is the truth and has a symphony accompanying him, do you hear the heavenly strings working in congress with his voice!!!!!
I'm returning to his music again and again.
I don't wanna go through your phone is Fire!!!!!!!!
Darrell Coleman Right!!