Jon Batiste | |
|---|---|
 Batiste in 2023 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Jonathan Michael Batiste (1986-11-11)November 11, 1986 (age 39) Metairie, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Education | Juilliard School (BM,MMus) |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 1998–present |
| Labels |
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| Formerly of | Stay Human |
Spouse | |
| Website | Jon Batiste |
Jonathan Michael Batiste (born November 11, 1986)[1][2] is an American singer, songwriter, musician, composer, bandleader, television personality and actor.[3] He has recorded and performed with artists includingAlicia Keys,Stevie Wonder,Prince,Willie Nelson,Lenny Kravitz,ASAP Rocky,Ed Sheeran,Lana Del Rey,Roy Hargrove,Juvenile, andMavis Staples. Batiste appeared nightly with his band,Stay Human,[4] as bandleader and musical director onThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert from 2015 to 2022.[5][6]
Batiste also serves as the music director ofThe Atlantic and the Creative Director of theNational Jazz Museum in Harlem. In 2020, he co-composed the score for thePixar animated filmSoul, for which he received anAcademy Award, aGolden Globe Award, aGrammy Award and aBAFTA Film Award (all shared withTrent Reznor andAtticus Ross).[7] Batiste has garnered sevenGrammy Awards from 22 nominations, including anAlbum of the Year win forWe Are (2021).[8]
In 2023, Batiste was featured in the documentary filmAmerican Symphony, which records the process of Batiste composing his first symphony.[9] In 2024, Batiste featured in the ensemble comedy-drama filmSaturday Night, directed byJason Reitman, playing the role of musicianBilly Preston, as well as composing the film's score.[10]
Jon Batiste was born inMetairie, Louisiana, to aCatholic family.[1][11] He grew up inKenner, Louisiana.[2] Batiste is a member of aNew Orleans musical dynasty, theBatiste family, that includesLionel Batiste of theTreme Brass Band, Milton Batiste of theOlympia Brass Band, andRussell Batiste Jr.[12][13] At the age of eight, he played percussion and drums with his family's band, the Batiste Brothers Band.[14] At the age of 11, at his mother's suggestion, he switched to piano and took classical piano lessons from local teacher Shirley Herstein every Saturday for seven years.[15] Batiste further developed his piano skills by transcribing songs from video games such asStreet Fighter Alpha,Final Fantasy VII andSonic the Hedgehog.[16]
At 17, Batiste released his debut album,Times in New Orleans. He attendedSt. Augustine High School andNew Orleans Center for Creative Arts withTrombone Shorty in New Orleans and graduated in 2004. He then went on to attend theJuilliard School, receiving aBachelor of Music in 2008 and aMaster of Music in 2011, both in jazz studies.[17] He studied with William Daghlian there.[18] While at Juilliard, he released his second album,Live in New York: At the Rubin Museum of Art. By the end of 2006, Batiste had been a featured performer in South Africa, London, Lisbon, Spain, Paris, and the United States.[19]
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In 2007, at the age of 20, Batiste made his debut at theConcertgebouw, in Amsterdam, producing and performing his own show. He conducted music clinics, classes, and workshops throughout the Netherlands in inner-city schools and underprivileged neighborhoods. He was invited toCarnegie Hall to produce and perform in his own show, with six young musicians from the Netherlands.[20] The performance concluded with a finale he composed for choir, jazz combo and orchestral instruments. In the following years, Batiste released a number of music projects, includingSocial Music (2013), which spent over a month at the top of the Billboard and iTunes jazz charts;The Late Show EP (2016) withStay Human; and a holiday album,Christmas with Jon Batiste (2016). In 2017, he released the singles "Ohio" withLeon Bridges andGary Clark Jr., as well as "Battle Hymn of the Republic" forThe Atlantic. Batiste's cover of "St. James Infirmary Blues" was nominated for a Grammy in 2019, in the category ofBest American Roots Performance. Batiste's debut solo album,Hollywood Africans, was released byVerve Records in September 2018. "Don't Stop" served as the lead single. Leading up to the album release, he completed a Summer Festival tour across the U.S. withthe Dap-Kings.
Batiste's career performances include a tribute toChuck Berry andFats Domino during the60th annual Grammy Awards (performing alongsideGary Clark Jr.); the Kennedy Center Honors' tribute toCarmen De Lavallade; the Concert for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama; the National Anthem at the2017 NBA All Star Game; and Opening Night of the 2017 US Open. He has curated theGlobal Citizen Advocacy Concert withTom Morello and theLouis Armstrong Wonderful World Festival in Queens, N.Y.
Batiste was cast in theHBO television seriesTreme, appearing as himself in seasons 2, 3, and 4. He was also cast as T.K. Hazelton in director Spike Lee's film,Red Hook Summer,[20] and he composed and performed theHammond B-3 organ music that was a part of the film score. Other film scores composed by Batiste include the television documentaryDuke 91 & 92: Back to Back and the short filmMelody of Choice. He also appears in the filmsDa Sweet Blood of Jesus (2014) by Spike Lee andThrive (2015) by Paul Szynol.
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In 2005, Batiste began performing regularly in New York with his Juilliard peers, bassist Phil Kuehn and drummerJoe Saylor. He later addedEddie Barbash on alto saxophone and Ibanda Ruhumbika on tuba.[21] Batiste named the bandStay Human, which draws its moniker from the belief that human interaction during a live musical performance can uplift humanity in the midst of the "plug in, tune out" nature of modern society. The band leads impromptu street performances, which Batiste calls "love riots".[22] Notable artists were often seen accompanying Batiste, includingWynton Marsalis.[23]
In 2011, Stay Human released the albumMY N.Y., which was recorded in its entirety onNew York City Subway trains, an idea that came to Batiste after questioning how to connect with people.[24]
On April 22, 2017, the band played for theMarch for Science rally at the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.[25][26]
In 2014, Batiste and Stay Human appeared onThe Colbert Report to perform the group's single, "Express Yourself", written and produced withAustin Bis.
On June 4, 2015, it was announced that Jon Batiste and Stay Human would serve as the house band onThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The show premiered on CBS on September 8, 2015.[6] On the show, Batiste and Stay Human have performed alongsideBilly Joel,Will Smith,Wynton Marsalis,John Legend,Grace VanderWaal, andNas.
On the August 11, 2022, episode, Colbert announced that Batiste had decided he would not be returning toThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert, in order to "pursue personal and professional interests".[27]
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In June 2020, Batiste took part in theJuneteenth celebration in Brooklyn, New York with a day of protests, marches, rallies, and vigils to "celebrate, show solidarity, and fight for equal rights and treatment of Black people.”[28] Performing on the steps of theBrooklyn Public Library, Batiste was joined byMatt Whitaker in a performance presented in partnership withSing For Hope.[28]
The 2020 Juneteenth took place during theprotests, following themurder of George Floyd, as well as theCOVID-19 pandemic, seen by some as connected to an increase in an awareness of racial injustice.[29] When questioned as to the differences he sees in the present movement for change and its connection to music, Batiste responded by saying: "...music has always been something that has had all of the different purposes of our life and our community and our healing and our unspoken pain – and the transmission of messages and the raising awareness of a condition of a people. [...] What's different, now, is that it's much more widespread in the support of changing the systemic oppression that's been going on for 400 years." He believes, "Now, it's more important than ever for us to be reintroduced to what our ancestors used music for, because it's been forgotten. [...] The world, at large, sees music as entertainment. It's never been that, at its root. It is that in one element of it, but the entire spectrum of music is far, far deeper and wide-ranging."[30]
Batiste composed music for the 2020 filmSoul, collaborating withTrent Reznor andAtticus Ross.[31][32] The trio went on to win theAcademy Award for Best Original Score[33] and aGolden Globe Award for Best Original Score,[34] among many other wins and nominations.
On March 19, 2021, Batiste releasedWe Are, his fifth solo studio album. Speaking toAtwood Magazine, he described it as "a culmination of my life, to this point" and "the most representative of where I am, as a creative, and as an artist".[5]
In July 2021, Batiste released a live EP,Live at Electric Lady, performed in one day atElectric Lady Studios. The album was released, exclusively, toSpotify.[35]
In October 2021, he made a surprise performance at night singing "Like a Prayer" in the streets ofHarlem, along withMadonna, promoting the release of herconcert filmMadame X.
At the64th Grammy Awards, Batiste earned 11 nominations: eight forWe Are, and three forSoul.[36] Of the 11 nominations, Batiste won five awards, includingAlbum of the Year,[8] becoming the second Black artist to win that award since2008, whenHerbie Hancock won for his albumRiver: The Joni Letters.[37]
In June 2023, Batiste announced a new albumWorld Music Radio. A concept album, it was released on August 18, 2023. Some of the album's featured artists includeLana Del Rey,Lil Wayne,NewJeans, andJID. The album was also supported by a single, "Calling Your Name".[38]
On September 22, 2022, Batiste conducted the premiere of his compositionAmerican Symphony atCarnegie Hall, New York. A review inVariety concluded: "It wasn't just the story of America, and its collage-like charms and vices. This was also Batiste's story, and he made a handsome orchestral debut of that story at Carnegie Hall, in a truly shining hour."[39]
In 2023, Batiste was featured in the documentary filmAmerican Symphony, directed byMatthew Heineman, executive produced byBarack and Michelle Obama, which records the process of Batiste composing his first symphony, while his wife,Suleika Jaouad, suffers the return of her leukemia.[9]
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During 2024, Batiste staged his Uneasy Tour, his first concert tour as a headlining act.[40]
Batiste followed these with a number of solo shows, billed as "STREAMS: Jon Batiste At The Piano", in which Batiste improvised performances at the piano and on melodica in a stream-of-consciousness manner.[41] A review inThe Post-Standard characterized it as a "Modern maestro ... display[ing] his magic".[40]
In November 2024, Batiste performed at theNational Book Awards in New York City as a musical guest.[42]
In February 2025, Batiste performed the national anthem atSuper Bowl LIX accompanied by deaf actressStephanie Nogueras inAmerican Sign Language.[43]
In August 2025, Batiste's seventh album,Big Money, was released. Batiste performed songs in various genres, such as blues, R&B, and classic rock and featured collaborations withAndra Day,No I.D., andRandy Newman.[44][45]
Batiste cites, among the artists who have most influenced his artistic and musical choices,Mahalia Jackson,James Brown,Louis Armstrong,Bruce Springsteen,Stevie Wonder,John Coltrane,Nina Simone,Miles Davis andDjango Reinhardt.[46][47] Interviewed byForbes, Batiste explained the significance of jazz music:[47]
Music is a real form of connection to a higher power at its greatest; music was a form of community that brought people together and gave them a common purpose. Jazz is really a term that doesn't encompass what it's pointing at, [...] the intellectual breadth of black geniuses who were basically denied the credential of being a genius in society because of their skin tone. [...] We always talk about improvisation, and it really is one of the only forms of music that exemplifies the American experiment putting all these different cultures into one country and coexisting and trying to create beautiful music together.
— Jon Batiste, inJon Batiste: So Much More Than Stephen Colbert's Music Director (Forbes)
About his 2024 albumBeethoven Blues, Batiste toldThe New York Times that Beethoven's music "is so very African, filled withpolyrhythms" and the "feeling" of theblues. Batiste's original compositions on the album include "Dusklight Movement", inspired both by the"Moonlight" Sonata, and a bit byB.B. King's "The Thrill Is Gone".[18]
Batiste was born into a family active in the struggle againstracial segregation in the United States;[46] his grandfather, David Gauthier, was president of theLouisiana Postal Workers Union, involved in the 1968 labor strike sponsored by theMemphis, Tennessee Department of Public Works for higher wages and safer working conditions.[48]
Batiste is a supporter ofcivil rights and the fight againstracism, participating publicly in numerous demonstrations, including the marches promoted by theBlack Lives Matter movement.[49] Following themurder of George Floyd in June 2020, Batiste organized peaceful protests inNew York City againstpolice brutality in the United States.[50]
Through the single "We Are", he supports the Equal Justice Initiative of attorney and activistBryan Stevenson. Batiste is also among the sponsors of several initiatives, including theInnocence Project, theNAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, andThe Legacy Museum.[51][46]
Batiste is married to journalist, musician, and best-selling authorSuleika Jaouad. The two met as teenagers at band camp.[52] On April 3, 2022, the couple revealed in an interview onCBS News Sunday Morning that they had been married in a private ceremony at home, in February 2022.[53]
Batiste grew up in the Catholic Church and sometimes went to the Baptist Church, and then eventually to theAME Church. He continues to identify as a Christian, and he has been outspoken about his faith.[54][55][56][57]
| Jon Batiste discography | |
|---|---|
| Studio albums | 6 |
| EPs | 9 |
| Soundtrack albums | 2 |
| Live albums | 5 |
| Singles | 11 |
| Collaborative albums | 3 |
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [58] | US Jazz [59] | US Indie [60] | US R&B/ HH [61] | AUS Hit. [62] | CAN [63] | FRA [64] | GER [65] | SWI [66] | UK DL [67] | ||||||||||
| Times in New Orleans |
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| Jazz Is Now |
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| Social Music (withStay Human) |
| 134 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | __ | ||||||||
| Christmas with Jon Batiste |
| 198 [68] | 3 [69] | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| Hollywood Africans |
| —[A] | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| We Are |
| 25 | — | — | 14 | 5 | 81 | 61 | 66 | 39 | 25 | ||||||||
| World Music Radio |
| 104 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 82 | — | ||||||||
| Beethoven Blues (Batiste Piano Series, Vol. 1)[71] |
| 64 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 50 | — | ||||||||
| Big Money[72] |
| —[B] | — | — | — | — | — | —[C] | — | — | — | ||||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| The Process (withChad Smith andBill Laswell) |
|
| Meditations (withCory Wong) |
|
| Swing States: Harmony in the Battleground (withRegina Carter,John Daversa, andHarvey Mason) |
|
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Current [74] | US OST [75] | UK Comp. [76] | UK OST [77] | ||
| Soul: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (withTrent Reznor andAtticus Ross) |
| 69 | 24 | 58 | 12 |
| Jazz Selections: Music From and Inspired by Soul |
| — | — | — | — |
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Jazz [59] | US Heat [78] | ||
| Live in New York: At the Rubin Museum of Art |
| — | — |
| The Music of John Lewis (with theJazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra andWynton Marsalis) |
| 3 | — |
| Anatomy of Angels: Live at the Village Vanguard |
| 3 | 20 |
| Chronology of a Dream: Live at the Village Vanguard |
| 7 | — |
| Live atElectric Lady |
| — | — |
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Jazz [59] | US Heat [78] | ||
| In the Night |
| — | — |
| The Amazing Jon Batiste! |
| — | — |
| MY N.Y. (with Stay Human) |
| — | — |
| The Late Show EP (with Stay Human) |
| 3 | 18 |
| We Are: Roots & Traditions |
| —[D] | — |
| Spotify Singles |
| — | — |
| A Little Bit of Soul |
| — | — |
| We Are the Golden Ones |
| — | — |
| Jon Batiste: The Nominated Collection |
| — | — |
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Dig. [81] | US AAA [82] | US R&B/ HH | US R&B [83] | US Rock Air. [84] | CAN Dig. [85] | JPN O/S [86] | MEX Air. [87] | |||||
| "Rise Up" (withFonseca) | 2014 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | ||
| "Endless Love" (featuringAloe Blacc) | 2016 | — | — | —[E] | — | — | — | — | — | Christmas with Jon Batiste | ||
| "Ohio" (withLeon Bridges andGary Clark Jr.) | 2017 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles | ||
| "Battle Hymn of the Republic" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| "Sweet Lorraine" | 2018 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Relief: A Benefit for the Jazz Foundation of America's Musicians Relief Fund | ||
| "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"(Recorded at Spotify Studios NYC) (featuringDanielle Brooks) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | |||
| "Creative"(live) | 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Anatomy Of Angels: Live at the Village Vanguard | ||
| "It's All Right"(fromSoul) (Duet version) (withCeleste) | 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | ||
| "I Need You" | — | 2 | —[F] | —[G] | — | — | — | — | We Are | |||
| "Freedom" | 2021 | 4 | 13 | —[H] | 19 | 39 | 13 | 18 | 21 | |||
| "Cry" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| "Sweet"(withPentatonix andDiane Warren)[91] | 2022 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Diane Warren: The Cave Sessions Vol. 1 | ||
| "The Light Shines Brightest in the Dark"(fromMarlowe) | 2023 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | ||
| "Be Who You Are (Real Magic)"(featuringJID,NewJeans, andCamilo) | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | — | World Music Radio | |||
| "Calling Your Name"[92] | — | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| "Drink Water"(featuringJon Bellion andFireboy DML)[93] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| "Sunshine in the Room" (withJames Bay)[94] | 2025 | — | 16 | — | — | — | — | 8 | — | Changes All the Time (Deluxe) | ||
| "Big Money" | — | 22 | — | — | — | — | 10 | — | Big Money | |||
| "Hard Fought Hallelujah" (withBrandon Lake andJelly Roll) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | |||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||||||||||
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "When I Get There" (Peter CottonTale featuring Jon Batiste,Jeremih,Jamila Woods, and Jack Red) | 2020 | Catch |
| "Skylark" (Nora Germain featuring Jon Batiste) | Non-album single | |
| "Sunday Bloody Sunday" (Deon Jones featuring Jon Batiste) | ||
| "L.O.V.E." (Yung Bae featuringEarthGang, Jon Batiste, and Sherwyn) | 2022 | Groove Continental: Side A |
| "Jon Batiste Interlude" (Lana Del Rey featuring Jon Batiste) | 2023 | Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd |
| "Candy Necklace" (Lana Del Rey featuring Jon Batiste) | ||
| "Saint Ferdinand" (Lauren Daigle featuring Jon Batiste andNatalie Hemby) | Lauren Daigle | |
| "Modern Times" (Jon Bellion & Jon Batiste) | 2025 | Father Figure |
| "Orpheus" (mgk) | Lost Americana |
Batiste has receivedseveral accolades, including being placed in the 2016Forbes 30 Under 30 music list,[95] and being named Grand Marshal of Endymion Parade in New Orleans in 2018.
He has been awarded the American Jazz Museum Lifetime Achievement Award, the Harry Chapin ASCAP Humanitarian Award and theMovado Future Legend Award. In May 2017, Batiste received an honorary degree fromSalve Regina University for his musical achievements and contributions to Newport's 2014 International Jazz Day.[96] In 2018, he was nominated for aGrammy Award for Best American Roots Performance for "Saint James Infirmary Blues".[8] In 2020, he received twoGrammy nominations: his albumChronology of a Dream: Live at the Village Vanguard was nominated forBest Contemporary Instrumental Album, andMeditations (withCory Wong) was nominated forBest New Age Album.[8]
In 2020, Batiste, along withNine Inch Nails band membersTrent Reznor andAtticus Ross, composed the score for the Disney and Pixar animated film,Soul. The three went on to win theGolden Globe, theCritics' Choice Award, theBAFTA Award, and theAcademy Award for Best Original Score. Batiste's Oscar win made him only the second black composer to win an award in the category (afterHerbie Hancock in 1987).[34] In 2021, Batiste received 11 nominations and became the most nominated artist at the64th Annual Grammy Awards.[97]
In 2022, Batiste won aGrammy Award for Album of the Year.[98] He was named inTime magazine's 2022 "Top 100 Most Influential People", in the Icons category.[99] Batiste was featured on the 2022New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival's commemorative poster.[99]
In May 2025, Batiste was present at theBrown University commencement ceremony and awarded an honorary doctorate degree in music.[citation needed]
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