PJ Morton bringing musical gumbo to Songbirds
Just a little over a week after the release of “Christmas With PJ Morton,” local fans will be among the first to hear Morton perform his soulful holiday music live when he stops at Songbirds on Tuesday, Nov. 20.
“I’ve always wanted to do a Christmas record,” Morton said in a phone interview. “It’s a really specific thing for people to care enough about your Christmas record because they first have to be engaged with your music.”
And Morton cared enough about doing this album to juggle it into his nonstop schedule because he saw a niche that needed filling.
“I wanted a soulful, original feeling. I felt that was missing. I wanted an album done in the way Motown used to put them out, where classics were done in an original way,” he explains.
“We get so many Christmas records every year that it was important to me to bring a fresh take to it. I called it ‘Christmas With PJ Morton’ because I wanted it to be my vibe, my version of Christmas music and how I wanted to hear it.”
“Christmas With PJ Morton” has eight tracks that range from the spiritual (“Do You Believe” featuring Yolanda Adams and a fantastic horn collaboration with The Good Times Brass Band of Atlanta), to unexpected twists on classics (“Winter Wonderland” with a reggae vibe) to closing inspiration (“Give Love.”)
Morton describes Christmas music as a “huge part” of his childhood.
“My father’s from Canada, and his side of the family has relatives in Canada and Detroit. Christmas was a time when everyone would come to New Orleans to our house. I’m from a musical family, and music played such a big part in the season.”
When you consider this workaholic has been touring with his “moonlighting gig” as keys player for Maroon 5, released his Grammy-nominated “Gumbo” in April 2017 then reinterpreted the album with a 22-piece orchestra to make live, orchestral version “Gumbo Unplugged,” which came out eight months ago, it’s amazing he’s had time to create a Christmas record.
He’s also written the theme song for Oprah Winfrey Network’s new “Ready To Love” dating series, is music director for Solange and operates his own New Orleansbased Morton Records.
Morton says he’s bringing a six-piece band with him to Songbirds. They will perform his “Gumbo” tour with the new Christmas music sprinkled throughout.
“I feel like our shows are experiences. We don’t like to do it ourselves — we like everybody to be involved. It’s a party; it’s good music.”