When the Hollywood location of the Blue Word first opened, it was throughout tough instances. Like nearly all of L.A., the venue was impacted by the January wildfires, and a March opening was pushed again to August.
Nevertheless, because the SoCal location of the beloved jazz membership franchise opened its doorways, it’s kicked off with a memorable run of sold-out exhibits and iconic moments, like Stevie Marvel becoming a member of Robert Glasper on stage final week. So, given all that has transpired on this distinctive opening yr of 2025, the group at Blue Word knew their first New 12 months’s Eve present needed to be noteworthy.
On Wednesday, L.A. resident and R&B legend El DeBarge will carry out on the membership to ring in 2026.
The Instances not too long ago spoke with DeBarge about his relationship with jazz, why he’ll by no means retire and why he loves enjoying NYE exhibits.
We’re speaking about your New 12 months’s present at Blue Word. Will or not it’s with the total band?
The New 12 months present on the Blue Word in Los Angeles with [be with] half of my band. The place is type of small however it’s only a nice highly effective place. I sat in with Robert Glasper on the New York location and I’m very honored to do the Blue Word once more.
It’s a really massive deal as a result of that is the membership’s first New 12 months’s Eve in L.A. How do you method it and is it particular so that you can be first?
It’s very particular for me to be the primary individual to play Blue Word NYE as a result of it’s an honor. Robert Glasper known as me up and stated, “Hey, El, I was very instrumental in helping launch the Blue Note in Los Angeles.” I stated, “Great,” as a result of he instructed me they have been getting one on the market, Subsequent factor I do know I’m getting a name from my supervisor saying, “Hey, they would love for you to do New Year’s Eve at the Blue Note.” I used to be like, “What? That’s great to me.” I’ve heard nothing however nice issues about it. I like the acoustics there [in New York].
Have you ever had memorable New 12 months’s exhibits over time?
Each time I’ve completed a New 12 months’s present it’s simply been nice. Such as you stated, individuals are in nice spirits, they’ve all made their resolutions and are glad and looking out ahead to it and we simply have a good time. No one desires to go dwelling (laughs).
“I think this New Year’s is very special for a lot of reasons but especially to all the people who were suffering, who were hurting from the fires,” DeBarge stated. “I even want to take a moment, if I can, on stage, and just honor them.”
(Courtesy of El DeBarge)
What’s the greatest track so that you can play at midnight?
“Rhythm of the Night” is one in all my favorites to play. Individuals really request it. If I say, “What do you want to hear to bring New Year’s in?” The bulk will say “Rhythm of the Night.” It’s only a enjoyable, dancing, glad second. It brings again plenty of reminiscences for folks.
Whenever you do smaller venues like Metropolis Vineyard or Blue Word are there songs you wish to revisit?
Yeah, I discover I can get away from the common manner of enjoying and singing a track and that I might simply unfold out the track a little bit bit and perhaps sluggish it down, take my time with it, cease. Then you may have lots of people from the viewers are getting free and simply singing with you and I can hear them as a result of it’s up shut. Typically I’ll even go over and take the microphone to someone and simply sit and sing with them on the fringe of the stage as a result of they’re simply that shut. It’s enjoyable that manner.
As somebody who lives in L.A., this yr has been so tough, because it began with the fires. Given how robust this yr was, do you are feeling like this New 12 months’s holds additional significance?
I feel this New 12 months’s may be very particular for lots of causes, however particularly to all of the individuals who have been struggling, who have been hurting from the fires. I even wish to take a second, if I can, on stage, and simply honor them. It’s only a second of silence. Simply keep in mind them, ones who misplaced issues, ones who misplaced lives. And I’m very grateful like I’ve by no means been earlier than to be right here. And it’s such an honor that they chose me to usher in the brand new yr.
Blue Word is a storied jazz membership. Speak about your relationship with jazz.
I’ve a really deep affiliation with jazz from my childhood, due to my brother, Bobby, relaxation in peace. And a gentleman by the title of Ricky Calliar, who I converse plenty of recently as a result of he was an essential mentor in my life as a baby. After I first met him, I used to be like 9 years outdated on the piano, and he taught me a lot. He took a particular curiosity in me, and he all the time performed Thelonious Monk, Joe Pattern from the Crusaders, and he would check with them, and Miles. Ricky performs trumpet himself. Like I stated, I’ve been talking rather a lot about him recently as a result of he’s been so instrumental in my studying expertise of music. However he and my brother Bobby have been very instrumental in connecting me with jazz. And I only in the near past acquired the Joe Pattern Award. I flew to Houston, Texas, and so they honored me with that. I gained’t say that I performed piano in addition to Joe Pattern, however it was an honor to obtain that.
Whenever you return then and hearken to your personal work over time, are there jazz influences that you simply hear in your music?
It’s humorous you must say that. I used to be listening to plenty of Joe Pattern and the Crusaders, as I stated, and in addition Earth, Wind and Hearth. I didn’t understand how a lot of an affect Maurice White’s manufacturing and writing, he and Philip Bailey, had on me. I began slowing the music down and simply listening. It simply hits you at a degree in your life, you’re like, “Wow, when I wrote this song I didn’t realize that song influenced it so much.” As a result of it turns into a lot part of you it’s automated. Simply sitting down and writing, I’m writing songs as if I’m sitting proper there with Joe Pattern or Earth, Wind and Hearth. If I used to be to take a seat down and depict it for you, you’ll see and listen to it.
Is there an Earth, Wind and Hearth track you’d like to cowl?
“September” is the glad track, however the one I’d like to do is “I Can’t Let Go.” That track had an important affect on me. I’d like to even sit down and carry out that with them if I might. I like that track. I met them many instances over time. And I like sitting down. I sat down and performed with them at DJ Cassidy’s celebration. He and I, Philip Bailey and Verdeen [White], we have been sitting on the piano at his celebration, and we sang “That’s the Way of the World.” I performed it on the piano, Philip Bailey sang, and Verdeen was on the bass. I used to be in paradise.
As you stated, your Blue Word affiliation goes again to Glasper. Your music has influenced so many individuals. How a lot enjoyable is it to mess around with completely different folks?
There’s a younger gentleman by the title of Fortunate Day. He impressed me — I used to be doing a live performance with he and Stevie Marvel at Stevie’s annual Christmas present. Simply being on stage and listening to him, he’s only a exceptional younger man. As a matter of truth, I dare say that he and I have been speaking about doing one thing within the close to future, presumably in ‘26, together. I’m actually wanting ahead to that.
If there was anyone that you may have come out and jam with you on New 12 months’s, who would it not be?
It might be Sting. I’d love to simply stand there and improvise as a result of with the power we’d each carry I do know it could be phenomenal. If I used to be to have one other alternative, positively Robert Glasper as a result of I wish to trade chops with him. He’s so nice at improvising. I like his ear and I like folks to encourage my ear. I do know Sting and Robert, they’d very a lot encourage my ear. It might simply be igniting. And I can’t say that about very many individuals. These are two folks that might actually get me going creatively.
What songs would you wish to do with Sting?
I want to do “King of Pain” with Sting if it was one in all his songs. If it was a DeBarge track, “Stay With Me.”
Are there songs in your catalog over time that you simply’ve actually developed a brand new appreciation for or which can be favorites to do?
“Stay With Me” actually resonates with me. One factor I didn’t know once I was youthful was the significance of the paperwork. I wrote that track with my brother Marty. And I didn’t pay any consideration to the paperwork once I was with Motown and my title by no means, ever, to today, ended up as a author on the track. And it’s far gone now, most likely too late for me to do something about it. However I didn’t perceive the paperwork, the significance of it. As a result of being an artist, typically we simply carry on writing, we simply carry on performing, and we don’t take time to deal with the enterprise. That was a mistake I made.
“I would give advice in a minute to any up-and-coming artist: Handle your business, because it is show slash business and it’s every bit of that,” DeBarge stated.
(Courtesy of El DeBarge)
Now being older, do you may have a significantly better appreciation and understanding of that and for simply every part that occurs on the whole?
Sure, I do. I’ve very a lot a deep appreciation for the entire enterprise facet of the present enterprise I’d give recommendation in a minute to any up-and-coming artist: Deal with your corporation, as a result of it’s present slash enterprise and it’s each little bit of that.
Do you discover that you simply additionally respect the moments in a different way?
My factor is it’s additionally euphoric for me as a result of I passionately love music. So, at any time when I’m having a musical expertise, be it on stage with Robert Glasper on the Blue Word or Stevie Marvel or simply within the studio writing with folks it’s so euphoric to me that hindsight is commonly significantly better for me as a result of I get caught up within the second. It’s simply a lot ecstasy as a result of I adore it like that. And music is actually like a excessive for me. So, sure, typically I look again and that’s once I actually respect issues. And I say, “Wow, if I could have that moment again, I would have done this or I would have said this or I would have acted like this.”
Because you don’t play L.A. typically, once you do play right here, is each present particular?
Sure, it’s. I like L.A. and I say this wherever I am going, I like L.A. And at any time when I get a possibility to play in L.A., it’s often as a result of somebody requested me to, I assume you may say modest or I’m simply humble. I simply don’t put myself on the market. If I didn’t have a supervisor, I most likely would simply be dwelling. I don’t ever put myself on the market, however I’m a folks individual. So, I like enjoying L.A. and I like each alternative I get to play L.A. I’m all the time honored and I’m all the time making an attempt to be at my greatest once I do L.A. as a result of that’s dwelling for me. It’s like New York. At any time when I do these two locations, I’m like, “Oh boy, I got to put on my best.”
You say music is euphoric for you. It’s spectacular you continue to have this degree of enthusiasm and reverence for it after so a few years doing it.
I don’t suppose I’ve ever as soon as misplaced my pleasure, my enthusiasm for music. I don’t keep in mind a time in my life the place I’ve ever stated I used to be absent of the enjoyment and splendor of simply doing music, singing, enjoying the piano, writing. I’ve heard different artists discuss retirement, I’ve heard some artists really planning out their retirement. “I’m going to do this until I get this age and then I’m going to do that.” I don’t know the way to do this. I don’t know tips on how to really feel that manner. As a result of to me, music is every part. I’m going to do it till I cease respiratory. The way in which I really feel about music, what I’ve realized in years is I’ve realized a lot about myself, simply by music. I really feel like we’re one. I really feel like we’re inseparable. I don’t know what I’d do with out it.
