Matt Lemmler says his greatest achievement is composing a jazz rendition of Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.” “It was written for a friend of mine who was dying and she wanted me to compose Ode to Joy to play
Matt Lemmler says his greatest achievement is composing a jazz rendition of Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.”
“It was written for a friend of mine who was dying and she wanted me to compose Ode to Joy to play at her funeral,” said the musician from New Orleans.
His version of Ode to Joy serves as homage to Beethoven and Johann Sebastian Bach, but with a jazz twist.
Lemmler composed his first version of Ode to Joy about seven years ago, but it keeps growing as he tweaks it, he said.
“I’ve been changing some arrangements and adding more vocals,” he said.
Lemmler’s version of Ode to Joy will be one of the songs he will be performing this weekend, as part of the 10th annual All Angels Jazz Festival, hosted by St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church.
The Jazz Festival begins tonight at 7 with The Gospel Divas, Barbara Tucker, April Hubert, Joan Hubert and Karen Dickinson.
Greta Matassa will headline Saturday’s 7 p.m. show, which will also feature Lemmler, Abe Lagrimas Jr. and Clipper Anderson.
Sunday performances, “Oh Happy Day! A Gospel Celebration,” will feature the All Angels Jazz Mass Choir with special guests. Jazz Masses will at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. A Cajun brunch will follow the 11 a.m. service. The masses are free and open to the public.
Lemmler will take the stage again Sunday.
The pianist, who has played the keyboard and organ while on tour with “The Phantom of the Opera,” has performed at the All Angels Jazz Festival for last four years.
“The festival is awesome, but Sunday’s jazz Mass is uplifting and inspirational,” he said.
Lemmler will also be performing at retirement communities on Kauai.
“I like bringing jazz to places where it may not be as popular,” he said.
On Thursday, he performed at the Garden Island Long-Term Facility in Wilcox Hospital, bringing patients the tunes of Henry Connick Jr. and Joe Raposo.
“People in retirement homes may not get out much, and I like getting them out of their seats to dance along to the songs they grew up dancing to,” he said.
Born in New Orleans to a family of musicians, Lemmler grew up in the Ninth Lower Ward, blocks away from Fats Domino, a legendary rhythm and blues musician who is considered to have helped define the New Orleans sound.
Jazz gives him the freedom to create his own sound, Lemmler said.
“It’s creative and allows for improvisation,” he said.
Lemmler was living in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005.
“I talk about life before and after Katrina, like people talk life before and after the Civil War,” he said.
The storm forced him to move to Houston, where he composed and recorded “The Music of New Orleans,” which was dedicated to those who lost their lives in the storm and those who continued to rebuild the city.
When he performs, Lemmler likes to stick to jazz hits, while his CDs are dedicated to his own creations.
“I like to perform the songs people know and can dance to,” he said.
Jazz Festival tickets cost $55 in advance and $65 at the door. Info: www.stmichaels-kauai.org
The 10th annual All Angels Jazz Festival at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church begins tonight at 7 with The Gospel Divas, Barbara Tucker, April Hubert, Joan Hubert and Karen Dickinson.
Saturday’s show begins at 7. The headliner is Greta Matassa. Matt Lemmler will perform along with Abe Lagrimas Jr. and Clipper Anderson.
Tickets cost $55 in advance and $65 at the door. Tickets can be purchased on St. Michael and All Angles Episcopal Church website or at the church office.
On Sunday, two jazz Masses will be held at the church at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. “Oh Happy Day! A Gospel Celebration” will feature the All Angels Jazz Mass Choir with special guests. A Cajun brunch will follow the 11 a.m. service. The Masses are free and open to the public.
