Jonathan Butler

Christmas in His Soul

Artist Interview by: Norm Breest

December 2005 - It all started out as four superstars of smooth jazz--Dave Koz, David Benoit, Peter White and Brenda Russell.  All wanted to send Season's Greetings to their fans by doing a special Christmas concert series. It has become one of the great traditions in holiday music. This year is no exception as Koz, Benoit, Patti Austin, Kirk Whalum and Jonathan Butler take to the road to say Merry Christmas to their fans with the annual A Smooth Jazz Christmas. The one person on the tour that brings the real meaning of the season to life is Butler.

At Christmas time, most people's thoughts go toward home and guitarist Butler has most of his family in South Africa. He says, Christmas is one of the best times of the year for me. I do enjoy Christmas. I happen to very much celebrate it with my friends and my family. I think it's a time to reflect as well as celebrate. No matter how busy life is in South Africa, people have a way to celebrate life in a very positive way.

Some of the music that Jonathan Butler performs, including holiday music, has a flavor of homecoming. As he was raised in Capetown under Apartheid, music helped him escape from the government discrimination that he and his older 11 brothers and sisters lived under. He says, You live through things, you deal with life, you live through it, you try to keep a positive attitude and that's all you can do. You have a positive outlook and keep moving forward.

Nelson Mandela brought change to South Africa by going to jail to protest apartheid in South Africa and finally have it eliminated. Butler says, South Africa is all changed. Right now, we are living in a different country and it's exciting to go home now and to see that. I met Nelson Mandela when he was released and did a concert for him. It was a very proud moment for me to meet the man whose spirit and soul is so incredible. I was most of the time lost for words.

After he was signed by Jive Records when he was 13, Jonathan Butler moved to England and lived there for 17 years. He says, I came to the West seeking artistic freedom to express myself, but I can not escape South Africa because that is who I am because South Africa is in my heart.

Some people call Butler a jazz instrumentalist with a soulful voice or a soulful R&B singer that can play a mean jazz guitar. He says, While my albums have always offered vocal cuts and instrumentals, for me it was never about creating music for a particular format or type of audience. That's too narrow and restrictive. For me, it's about surrendering to the will of the music and just letting it flow through me whichever direction it may go.

During the holidays, thoughts go to what people can do to help each other. Jonathan Butler is working with a group called Acres of Love. He says, We adopt abandoned HIV babies. We buy homes and medication and hire doctors and nurses on staff. It's something that just dear to my heart. It's a way of staying connected to South Africa. It's a way of giving back to my country and it's something I truly believe in. People can go to the website acresoflove.org and read more about it. There's lots to be done and more power to the people that are pulling and making it through and helping out.

Jonathan Butler's latest release is called Jonathan, his first release on Koz' Rendezvous Music label. However, he is most proud of his recent gospel release The Worship Project. During both tours and his often special acoustic performances in bookstores, Butler's soul is fully released when he sings songs from that album about who helps him get through each day. That person is the one who we celebrate his birth at this time of year. Butler shows the Christmas spirit every day of the year through his music and himself. It's one of the great miracles that we have been blessed with.

For more information: http://www.jonathanbutler.com

Photo by: © Morrice Blackwell

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