Joseph Joubert, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Anais Reno On NYCNext’s ‘New York State Of Mind’ Video: ‘Out Of Despair Comes Purpose’ – CBS New York
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – As we head into the new year with Omicron raging, we could all use a lift of our spirits.
Some New York City performing artists sang and played to an iconic song to do just that.
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CBS2’s Dana Tyler got a chance to talk with them about why they did it, and why we need it.
It’s a New York City song to the core. Forty five years ago, when Billy Joel wrote it – or on a day like today, when the city really needs it, with the number of Omicron COVID cases skyrocket, the nonprofit NYCNext put New York places and face in the video, in hopes of inspiring people to get involved and help the city stand tall again.
Joseph Joubert had the honor – and a bit of pressure – playing Joel’s omni-present chords in “New York State of Mind.”
“Generally, we piano players are in the background. We don’t get much play. So this was a moment of, well, ‘I’m going to get this moment. Let me take advantage of it,’” Joubert said. “It was, you know, it’s all the good things that could possibly happen for a musician.”
A Broadway pianist, orchestrator and Grammy nominee. The Harlem native was filmed at the iconic “jazz corner of the world,” Birdland.
“Obviously I had played the track in the studio,” Joubert said. “But then I had to go and replay it to myself and make it look like I’m playing. I mean, I was really playing it, but it was a catch that it’s some genius for, you know, videography and because they’ve matched me pretty good.”
NYCNext co-founder Maryam Banikarim says Billy Joel was gracious with permission to use his son, and that everyone on the project was generous with their time.
“Really, we’re all bound by our love of this city and the arts, so thank you guys so much for everything,” Banikarim said.
NYCNext formed in August 2020, offering popup performances in the city for an arts-starved public, while Broadway and the arts community were shut down by COVID.
“It’s a volunteer grassroots movement. It was like, out of despair comes purpose,” Banikarim said.
Pulitzer prize and Tony Award-winning musician, composer and conductor Tom Kitt produced the video, arranging who sings what, when and where.
“And also inspiring, motivating civic involvement,” Tyler said.
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