00:00 Allison Miner introduces Alvin Batiste who was born in New Orleans in the Garden District. His father was musical – Edgar Batiste – and bought Batiste his first clarinet for him during his last year of elementary school. Ellis Marsalis also went to his school. Batiste studied art with Vernon Winslow. Raymond Lewis came back from World War II with Charlie Parker records. When he heard Charlie Parker, he became serious about music that day. He played his first gig with Ukulele Lemon and Guitar Slim. The gig was at The Mighty Dukes. 06:00 Clarence Ford and Edward Blackwell were in Wallace Davenport’s band. Batiste got involved. Fort Dix played a concert at the Booker T Washington School and Batiste got a solo to play during the song “The Hills of Home.” Sterling White saw him play and pledged to help him. 09:00 Batiste talks about the musical crowd at Booker T Washington. He then joined the Army Reserves at age 17. He practices with many other young musicians at Dillard University. He got a scholarship to go to Southern University in Baton Rouge. At SU they had Emory Thompson, Omar Shariff, Edward Sawyer, Ludwig Freeman, and Edward Jordan. Interviewer asks about Nat Peralate who had a band that practiced at The Dew Drop. 12:40 Batiste’s song “Nigeria” is played from an album on AFO Records. Batiste is asked about doing some work with Ray Charles, Ornette Coleman and the Ellington Orchestra. Batiste says that he just did an album with Kenny Barron, Rufus Reed, Don Edwards, Wes Anderson, and Herman Jackson. They recorded “Ray’s Segway”. Charles tried to get the most reputable jazz musicians to warm up for Charles. The baritone sax spot moved between Hank Crawford, Leroy Copper, Batiste, and Edward Jordan. Also in the band was Detroit trumpet player Marcus Belgrave, a Nashville trumpet player named John Hunt, and Pittsburgh bassist Edgar Willis, drummer Teagle Fleming. 16:30 Batiste talks about Ornette Coleman. “Nigeria” is played. Batiste wrote songs about places without physically being there (Nigeria and Morocco). Allison Miner brings up an article “Jazz & Being” written by Batiste. Batiste discusses his work at Southern University and starting a jazz program. They were given the title of the Jazz Institute. North Texas State was the first organized jazz program. 24:00 Batiste talks about the roots of jazz, blues, and gospel. He also talks about his pedagogical practices. Batiste remembers a pianist named Fats Pichon who would play at The Court of Two Sisters. African tradition and storytelling is discussed. He follows the tradition to the blues and to rap music. 28:00 Batiste discusses the influence of Professor Longhair; about learning from a drummer in Africa; about teaching at Southern University. Discusses how young people are leaning less from school and more from peers and technology. He talks about Herman Jackson teaching drums at Southern and how technology has changed. 32:00 Allison Miner plays a song “Voices in the Wilderness.” The song features the singing of Freddy Love. 37:00 Batiste began to record more music as he slowed his teaching schedule. He talks about the talent that he is including in his set at the festival. He has album finished, but not a label yet. He discusses the courses and tracks within the music school at Southern University. 43:00 They discuss the exploitation of artists by record companies and the need for managers. 47:25 The interview is concluded.
