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Jon Batiste

~Pianist Jonathan Batiste is a member of a long lineage of musicians from the Batiste family of Louisiana. He was introduced to music by his family's band, the Batiste Brothers Band, in which he played percussion/drums at age 8. He switched to piano around the age of 12.

By the age of 17, he released the first of his two CDs as a leader entitled "Times In New Orleans" featuring New Orleans musicians Jason Marsalis, Donald Harrison, Jr., and Christian Scott. By then he was already attracting considerable attention as a young musician of great talent and potential. In 2004 he graduated from the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA) as a prime young performer. He then went on to study at the prestigious Juilliard School in New York.

In 2005 Batiste made his debut at Carnegie Hall and began performing regularly around the New York music scene with his trio, including bassist Phil Kuehn and drummer Joe Saylor. Soon he added tenor saxophone virtuoso, Matt Marantz, and 15 year old child prodigy, Eddie Barbash on alto saxophone. Batiste has toured extensively with this quintet in recent years.

In 2006 he received the "Movado Future Legend Award," being the only one to receive the honor for jazz. Prior to the honor, Jonathan had already released his second CD "Live In New York: At The Rubin Museum Of Art". Closing out 2006, Batiste had already been a featured performer in South Africa, London, Lisbon, Spain, Paris, and the U.S.

In 2007 he made his debut at the world renowned Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), producing and performing his own show. In addition to the show, he also conducted music clinics/master classes and workshops throughout all of Holland in inner city schools and underprivileged neighborhoods. As a result, he was invited back to Carnegie Hall to produce and perform in his own show. The performance included six young musicians from the Netherlands in which Batiste composed music featured in the program. The performance concluded with an epic finale he composed for choir, jazz combo, and orchestral instruments. It was viewed as a hugely successful cultural exchange and garnered national attention. Also in 2007, Batiste began an ongoing collaboration with vocalist Cassandra Wilson.

Starting off 2008, Batiste was a featured member of the 2008 NBA All-Star Game halftime show. Batiste was the youngest artist alongside Allen Toussaint, Harry Connick, Jr., Dr. John, Ellis Marsalis, Art Neville, Ivan Neville, and Davell Crawford.

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In Pictures

Jon Batiste in Concert at Sandler Center for the Arts

Read "Jon Batiste in Concert at Sandler Center for the Arts" reviewed by Mark Robbins


jny:New Orleans is the home to some of the most musical families in the United States. Barbarian, Marsalis, Andrews, Jordan, Neville and Boutte just to name a few. Another, the Batiste Family has scattered to other cities across the country, there are still some in New Orleans, and the current band leader with his band, Stay Hungry, on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert is piano phenom Jon Batiste. The Julliard trained pianist is equally at home trading his piano ...

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Album Review

Jon Batiste: Anatomy of Angels

Read "Anatomy of Angels" reviewed by Chris May


As the bandleader and musical director on CBS TV's The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, pianist Jon Batiste will be known to many AAJ readers in the US. Here on the other side of the pond his name rings fewer bells. So before discussing Batiste's piano trio + octet album Anatomy of Angels, some background for European readers. Batiste comes from a distinguished line of jny: New Orleans musicians which includes the late Harold Battiste, whose accomplishments ...

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Talking 2 Musicians

Jon Batiste

Read "Jon Batiste" reviewed by Alan Bryson


As is commonly known in jazz circles, talent doesn't inevitably guarantee success. In my nearly nine year association with All About Jazz I have come across way too many struggling musicians with undeniable talent. If you're an ardent jazz fan, it's pretty much a given that you develop a deep admiration for people willing to follow their passion and dedicate themselves to the pursuit of a career in jazz. It's wonderful when such a person achieves something extraordinary, and today ...

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Interview

Jon Batiste: Staying Human

Read "Jon Batiste: Staying Human" reviewed by Bob Kenselaar


Jon Batiste was named the bandleader of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (related news). This interview was originally published in January 2013. Nearly everything about Jonathan Batiste is steeped in jny: New Orleans--from the way he talks, walks, and claps his hands to the way he plays the piano, composes, and leads his Stay Human Band. So, it's surprising to consider he's actually spent most of his adult life in New York City, having arrived in 2004 ...

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Live Review

Exit 0 Jazz Festival: Music All Over The Map

Read "Exit 0 Jazz Festival: Music All Over The Map" reviewed by John Ephland


Exit 0 International Jazz Festival Cape May, New Jersey November 7-9, 2014 It's a festival by the bay. Actually, it's by a cape. Or in a cape. Cape May, New Jersey, to be exact. And it has a history. A history by another name as well as its own. For those of you who are familiar with the festival by the cape, now known as the Exit 0 International Jazz Festival, this year's edition was full of ...

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Album Review

Jon Batiste/Chad Smith/Bill Laswell: The Process

Read "The Process" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


If anybody saw this coming, they must to be clairvoyant. The Process brings together drummer Chad Smith, the hard-hitting, groove-making force that drives the Red Hot Chili Peppers, pianist Jon Batiste, the oft-cheery personality who bridges the NOLA-New York divide with his crowd-pleasing, accessible brand of jazz, and bassist-producer Bill Laswell, a prolific, genre-blind force with a mile-long list of credits who's straddled and erased the divide between pan-African styles, dub, funk, jazz, various strains of rock, electronica, and avant-garde ...

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Live Review

Jonathan Batiste: New York, NY, December 12, 2012

Read "Jonathan Batiste:  New York, NY, December 12, 2012" reviewed by Bob Kenselaar


Jonathan Batiste and the Stay Human Band National Jazz Museum in Harlem Metropolitan Community United Methodist Church New York, NY December 12, 2012Go to any of the major New York City jazz venues and you'll sometimes get the feeling you're in church. The crowds are polite and attentive; some people might even have their hands folded on the tables. So, if you're hoping for something along these lines from Jon Batiste ...

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Recording

Jon Batiste Releases Second Village Vanguard Installment Chronology Of A Dream: Live At The Village Vanguard — Available Now On Vinyl!

Jon Batiste Releases Second Village Vanguard Installment Chronology Of A Dream: Live At The Village Vanguard — Available Now On Vinyl!

Source: Crossover Media

The inimitable musician and bandleader, Jon Batiste, releases Chronology Of A Dream: Live At The Village Vanguard on November 1. Recorded during his six-night residency in the fall of 2018, the live album is a follow up to his recent critically acclaimed release, Anatomy of Angels: Live at the Village Vanguard, and is part two of the two-part series. You can listen to the first single “HIGHER" and pre-order the album here. Anatomy of Angels and Chronology of a Dream ...

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Recording

Blue Engine Records Releases "The Music Of John Lewis" From The Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra With Wynton Marsalis Featuring Jon Batiste

Blue Engine Records Releases "The Music Of John Lewis" From The Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra  With Wynton Marsalis Featuring Jon Batiste

Source: All About Jazz

Available in stores, online and streaming March 24 Honoring the legacy of the Modern Jazz Quartet’s maestro, John Lewis, Blue Engine Records announces its newest release: The Music of John Lewis by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis featuring Jon Batiste available March 24. In 2013, when the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis set out to celebrate the esteemed pianist and composer, they teamed up with jny: New Orleans’ own Jon Batiste. The bandleader ...

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Performance / Tour

The National Jazz Museum In Harlem Fall 2015 Benefit Concert Next Week October 28 Featuring Jon Batiste with Guest Michela Marino Lerman!

The National Jazz Museum In Harlem Fall 2015 Benefit Concert Next Week October 28 Featuring Jon Batiste with Guest Michela Marino Lerman!

Source: Scott Thompson Public Relations

JON BATISTE, THE BANDLEADER FOR LATE NIGHT WITH STEPHEN COLBERT October 28, 8pm - Alhambra Ballroom - Reserve Now JUST ADDED OPENING ACT: TAPDANCER MICHELA MARINO LERMAN Jon Batiste, National Jazz Museum in Harlem's Artistic Director at Large brings his legendary energy and great music to the intimate and historic Alhambra Ballroom in Harlem on October 28 at 8pm to benefit the National Jazz Museum in Harlem. Adding to the excitement is the incredibly talented tapdancer Michela Marino ...

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Performance / Tour

Jon Batiste Benefit Concert October 28 At The Alhambra Ballroom - Plus National Jazz Museum In Harlem Gets A New Home!

Jon Batiste Benefit Concert October 28 At The Alhambra Ballroom - Plus National Jazz Museum In Harlem Gets A New Home!

Source: Scott Thompson Public Relations

THE NATIONAL JAZZ MUSEUM IN HARLEM ANNOUNCES ITS FALL 2015 BENEFIT CONCERT FEATURING JON BATISTE, THE BANDLEADER FOR LATE NIGHT WITH STEPHEN COLBERT AND THE NATIONAL JAZZ MUSEUM IN HARLEM'S NEW LOCATION ON 58 WEST 129 STREET OFF OF LENOX AVENUE “When Stephen Colbert introduced Jon Batiste as his Late Show bandleader earlier this month, most people reacted with some variation of “Who the hell is Jon Batiste?" Little did we know then that he's one of the greatest musical ...

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TV / Film

Stephen Colbert Picks Jon Batiste as "Late Show" Bandleader

Stephen Colbert Picks Jon Batiste as "Late Show" Bandleader

Source: Michael Ricci

The National Jazz Museum in Harlem's Artistic Director-at Large, Jon Batiste, has been announced as the bandleader for CBS' “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert." All of us at the National Jazz Museum in Harlem send congratulations to our Artistic Director at Large Jon Batiste on becoming musical director for the new Stephen Colbert Show. It's so good to know that a musician of such impeccable talent will have a platform like this to bring great music to millions of ...

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Event

Newport Festivals Foundation Gala: Cassandra Wilson, Michel Camilo, Jon Batiste

Newport Festivals Foundation Gala: Cassandra Wilson, Michel Camilo, Jon Batiste

Source: Carolyn McClair Public Relations

Newport Festivals Foundation 5th Annual Gala Celebrates George Wein’s 90th Birthday with Cassandra Wilson, Michel Camilo and Jon Batiste & Stay Human NEWPORT, RI: Don’t miss one of Newport’s favorite social events when the Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc. returns to The Breakers on Saturday, August 1, at 7:30 pm for its Gala Benefit featuring performances by Cassandra Wilson, Michel Camilo, Jon Batiste and Stay Human, to celebrate the 90th birthday of festival impresario George Wein. Although his birthday is October ...

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Festival

Chris Botti And Jon Batiste & Stay Human Tix At Newport Jazz Fest On Sale 12/18

Chris Botti And Jon Batiste & Stay Human Tix At Newport Jazz Fest On Sale 12/18

Source: Carolyn McClair Public Relations

Tickets Go On Sale Worldwide on Thursday, December 18, 10:00 am for Newport Jazz Festival Opening Night Concert featuring Chris Botti and Jon Batiste & Stay Human at the International Tennis Hall of Fame at Newport Casino Pre-Concert Cocktail Party Tickets Also On Sale NEWPORT, RI – Tickets for the opening night concert of the Newport Jazz Festival presented by Natixis Global Asset Management featuring Chris Botti and Jon Batiste & Stay Human on the Alex and Ani Stage at ...

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Recording

Jon Batiste, Chad Smith, Bill Laswell - M.O.D. Technologies Releases Collaboration Of Three Outstanding Musical Voices, The Process.

Jon Batiste, Chad Smith, Bill Laswell - M.O.D. Technologies Releases Collaboration Of Three Outstanding Musical Voices, The Process.

Source: hubtone PR

Transformative pianist and uplifting young visionary from jny: New York City via New Orleans – Jon Batiste, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ drummer – Chad Smith and legendary bassist / producer – Bill Laswell, detonate avant-funk, African styles, electric Miles Davis, Meters, Mutant Hip Hop, Ginger Baker…and more, on their album called The Process. A sonic / musical assault... featuring Tunde Adebimpe (TV on the Radio), Killah Priest (Wu-Tang Clan) and others. “I wanted to take a risk and be inspired ...

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Event

Newport Festivals Foundation And Salve Regina University Celebrate The 60th Anniversary Of Newport Jazz Festival

Newport Festivals Foundation And Salve Regina University Celebrate The 60th Anniversary Of Newport Jazz Festival

Source: Carolyn McClair Public Relations

Newport Festivals Foundation and Salve Regina University Celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Newport Jazz Festival on International Jazz Day, April 30, with Workshops and a Concert Featuring Jon Batiste and Stay Human Celebration Includes Middle and High School Workshops Plus Concert at 7:30 pm at the Casino Theatre NEWPORT, RI – Celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Newport Jazz Festival ® on International Jazz Day, Wednesday, April 30, at the historic Casino Theatre, 9 Freebody Street in Newport, with a ...

Performance / Tour

Jazz This Week: Jon Batiste and Stay Human, Jahmal Nichols CD Release, and More

Jazz This Week: Jon Batiste and Stay Human, Jahmal Nichols CD Release, and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

If you're looking to shake the mid-winter doldrums this weekend, your options for live jazz and creative music in St. Louis include the local debut of an up-and-coming New Orleans performer; an album release event featuring the first recording as a leader from one of our town's busiest bassists, and more. Let's go to the highlights... Tonight, saxophonist Lew Winer III leads a trio at The Engine Room, while singer Joe Mancuso and guitarist Dave Black play at Nathalie's, a ...

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Anatomy of Angels

Verve Music Group
2019

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Chronology Of A...

Verve Music Group
2019

buy

The Process

M.o.d. Technologies
2014

buy

Social Music

Razor & Tie Entertainment
2013

buy

Jazz Is Now

Self Produced
2013

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Videos

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