Beethoven Blues: Batiste Piano Series, Vol. 1

A fresh jazz take on the best of Beethoven

As a fan of Vince Guaraldi and Schroeder’s takes on classical pieces, the jump with Batiste and his fresh takes was easy and comforting. This has been a go to for me since it debuted. “Für Elise,” “Dusklight Movement”—a variation on the “Moonlight Sonata,”  and “7th Symphony Elegy” are among my favorites, but I could listen to this collection front to back on repeat—and have. I’m hoping this is only the first in a series of fresh interpretations on classical pieces.