Ode to Joy: Jon Batiste treats intimate audience to music mix

Bob Perkoski Tuesday, February 27, 2024
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At a sold-out performance at Cleveland Museum of Art’s Gartner Auditorium this past Sunday, Feb. 25, award-winning, multi-talented Jon Batiste treated an intimate crowd of about 700 people to a variety of melodies and sounds during his hour-long performance.

Batiste opened his show by playing the historic 1971 McMyler pipe organ housed in the Gartner Auditorium, before moving on to a grand piano and a replica of a 1697Chimney Italian harpsichord.

The crowd was treated to the world premiere of Batiste’s “Sometimes” and played his harmonaboard—a hybrid of a harmonica and keyboard—from the balcony, which had everyone on their feet and clapping.

More than 22,000 people tried to get tickets, but only 1,366 were lucky enough to attend the two performances.

 FreshWater managing photographer Bob Perkoski was there to capture some of the magic.
Bob Perkoski
Bob Perkoski

About the Author: Bob Perkoski

Bob is managing photographer with FreshWater as well as a Cleveland freelance photographer. His photographic approach is rooted in the art of storytelling. Whether freezing the energy of an event, encapsulating the magic of a performance, or astutely anticipating the decisive moments, his work displays an innate ability to distill the essence of any scene or subject into a single frame or series of work. In addition, Bob is the official photographer for LAND studio and Holden Forest and Gardens and has worked with various Cleveland organizations. In 2019 he published a book of his photos Rust Belt Burlesque. He's had work published in other books like LGBTQ Cleveland by Ken Schneck, Rust Belt Chic: The Cleveland Anthology, Rust Belt Chic: The Pittsburgh Anthology and Moon Cleveland by Douglas Trattner. Previously he was co-founder/art director for Balanced Living Magazine. You can view his versatile portfolio of work, which includes news coverage, portraiture, architectural and fine art at Perkoski Photography. Originally from Conneaut, Ohio, Perkoski now lives close to the city in Parma. He has been Fresh Water's managing photographer since the publication's September 2010 inception.

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