Jonathan Butler

reinvents himself with a Burt Bacharach songbook flavored with his own South African roots

By Quinci LeGardye

After 46 years in the music business and 23 albums, singersongwriter and guitarist Jonathan Butler continues to approach life with curiosity and cause. Lately, he’s been cultivating his hobbies, bonding with new additions to his family, and fueling a creative drive that he funnels into recording various styles and genres of music. During a recent phone interview, Butler reminisced about a camping trip in an RV last summer in Lake Tahoe with his daughter, Jodie, granddaughter Avia, and his girlfriend (now wife). “I’d been [camping] when I was a kid, but this was the first time the family went camping. Oh man, they loved it! We all enjoyed it. It was such great memories.” Most of the year, Butler’s travels are all about touring; journeys he shares on social media. His official Facebook page contains video chats with viewers from wherever he is: at venues, in the studio rehearsing, even while waiting to catch a plane. But he also shares videos of his family roughing it at a campsite, and pictures of his newborn granddaughter, Lyric. He makes the happy moments in his life as accessible to his fans as his music. Changes in Butler’s personal life over the past few years have been woven into his music. After a divorce that brought an end to more than three decades of marriage with the mother of his children (Randy, 34, and Jodie, 31), he met violinist Nadira Kimberly. The couple, who live in the Los Angeles area, married in January. And, Butler says she inspired his latest release, Close to You, a contemporary tribute to Burt Bacharach and Hal David. “Right then I realized this was not the season to write about me or my relationship,” Butler shared. “It was a season for me to listen to what is in the atmosphere. The music of Burt Bacharach was what I was hearing. The next day I called my manager and told him I wanted to do a Bacharach songbook album and reinvent myself in the process.” Close to You wasn’t Butler’s first encounter with the Bacharach/David songbook. There’s a fun coincidence within his decision to make the album, as one of his first singles was a cover of their song “Please Stay.” “In 1974, I had recorded my first Burt Bacharach song. I am just realizing it was made for me. Oh my God! The first set of singles I recorded at age 13 or 12, was a Burt Bacharach song. That was really big, you know.” Butler described recording the album as a chance for him to learn from the process. “I think that the way [Bacharach and David] compose and construct songs and lyrics and melodies ... It’s like going back to writing school, arranging school. It just opened a new door for me as a writer and a composer, because these songs,

‘Walk on By’ and ‘The Look of Love’ and ‘A House Is Not a Home,’ of cooking for his golf buddy, saxophonist Gerald Albright, the last ‘Alfie,’ [are] amazing.” time the two performed at Seabreeze. “Gerald and I were sharing Even though the songs are covers, the arrangements are pure the condo, and I said, ‘Hey man, let me find a store.’ I went and found Butler. In Close to You, he employs the South African groove that’s a store, and I cooked us an incredible meal. He couldn’t believe it. a connecting thread through all of his albums. When asked why I just made him a rib eye with a salad. He was just blown away.” it was important for him to use the traditional sounds of South When sharing a beachfront condo with Whalum during Africa within his music, Butler answered, “Well, that’s who I am.” the Seabreeze Jazz Festival this month, Butler might cook some He further explained, “Once I picked the songs that I felt comfortable with, [and] took the time to figure out what direction I wanted to go in terms of rhythms, the groove, the beat, what kind of sounds I wanted to create, immediately my roots came freshly caught fish from the emerald green waters of the into view. I said, ‘Well, OK, Gulf of Mexico, but he won’t be hitting the links with nobody’s done Burt Bacharach his co-headliner because Whalum doesn’t golf. “I don’t music with a South African know whether he will even try,” Butler said with a laugh. kind of twist to it.’” Another tradition Butler will not indulge during this Butler makes sure to tour is bringing his daughter, Jodie, onstage with him. She stay connected to his home just gave birth to his second granddaughter, Lyric. At the country, traveling there at least time of the interview, Butler was excited to meet the baby, once a year. He continues to who was born a week later. As for his first granddaughter, work with underprivileged Avia, “She’ll always be my princess, always,” Butler said youth through his Jonathan sweetly. “She’s amazing. She’s 11 years old, and just Butler Foundation and hosts completely my joy.” an annual safari for his fans. There’s also some exciting news for fans of his original In fact, the only original work. “As we speak right now, I definitely have several songs composition on Close to You, “Cape Town,” could be its unofficial [and] a lot of inspiration to write the next album,” Butler announced. theme song. “I actually wrote the song as a memento to my guests He didn’t say whether his new music will have another hit like who’ve been traveling with me to South Africa, and who have actually “Sarah, Sarah” or “Do You Love Me,” but he does have an idea been there to firsthand see my country and learn about it, so what of what’s coming down the line. “There’s gonna be a lot of cool inspired me to write the song was the safari.” music; I can feel it already. It’ll be soon. I can hear the creative While his next safari trip is scheduled for this October, he things flowing right now, so I’m excited!” got a chance to return home again to perform at the Cape Town For more information on Butler, visit www.jonathanbutler.com. International Jazz Festival last month. He’s now back stateside for a round of collaborative shows with his fellow musician friends, performing at Earl Klugh’s Weekend of Jazz at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on April 5. Then, he’s gearing up for a tour with saxophonist Kirk Whalum, which includes a stop at the Seabreeze Jazz Festival in Panama City, Florida, on April 28. The Butler/Whalum tour will include a combination of musicians from each artist’s bands—John Stoddart on keyboards and vocals, Dan Lutz on bass, Marcus Finnie on drums—and 29-year-old South African guitarist Andrea Lisa. In addition to the shows themselves, these destinations give Butler a chance to explore. “I’m a real food person,” Butler said. “So, whenever I stop in a city, I get on my phone and I start wandering around the city just to see where there’s great restaurants or places I can find food, instead of just sitting around in a hotel all day.” If he doesn’t find his preferred Michelin-star restaurants or the locals’ favorite eatery, he can fend for himself. He has a fond memory

April 5

16th Annual Earl Klugh’s Weekend of Jazz at The Broadmoor Colorado Springs, Colorado www.weekendofjazz.com

April 28

21st Annual Seabreeze Jazz Festival (with Kirk Whalum) Aaron Bessant Park Panama City Beach, Florida www.seabreezejazzfestival.com 850-267-3279

Coming down the line: “There’s gonna be a lot of cool music; I can feel it already. It’ll be soon. I can hear the creative things flowing right now, so I’m excited!” Photo: Raj Naik

ON June 29 3rd Annual San Diego Smooth Jazz Festival (with Kirk Whalum)TOUR Embarcadero Marina Park North San Diego, California www.sandiegosmoothjazzfestival.com 562-424-0013

July 14

10th Annual Lake Arbor Jazz Festival (with Kirk Whalum) Bowie Center for the Performing Arts Bowie, Maryland https://lakearborjazz.com

July 19

Music City Jazz Festival (with Kirk Whalum) Public Square Park Nashville, Tennessee www.musiccityjazzfest.com