Welcome to ‘Better Know a Band Leader,’ your guide to Jon Batiste, the newly announced leader of Stephen Colbert’s ‘Late Show’ band.
“We’re all about people, and bringing people into the spotlight. Not just the ones who are talented or wealthy, but the everyday person. Music is to be played with them, not just for them. That’s how [Colbert] runs his show and that’s what he thinks about and that’s who he is. It’s a match made in heaven.” – Jon Batiste, Esquire interview
A Musical Heritage
Although Jonathan Batiste and Stephen Colbert may be a “match made in heaven,” divergent paths led them to find another. Hailing from Kenner, Louisiana, to a prominent musical family, 28-year-old Batiste was exposed to New Orleans-style jazz from a very young age. He played percussion with the Batiste Brothers Band at the age of 8, eventually switching to piano by age 11.
The Batiste Brothers Band, circa 1982.
While in high school, Batiste also attended the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts. At the tender age of 17, he released his first album, Times in New Orleans (2005). The following year brought another release, Live In New York: At The Rubin Museum Of Art (2006). Batiste continued his music education at Juilliard school, where he met fellow Stay Human band members Joe Saylor (drums) and Eddie Barbash (alto saxophone).
Jon’s first album.
On his website’s Q & A, he described his experience of developing musical discipline this way:
If you’re going to be great, you really have to go through a four or five year period of practicing eight hours a day or more and listening constantly. You have to be in the shed. You have to face yourself at some point, if you’re going to be great.
After releasing and touring two more albums, In the Night (2008), and The Amazing Jon Batiste! (2009), he was appointed Artistic Director at Large of the National Jazz Museum in Harlem in 2012.
‘Stay Human’ Finds Its ‘Social’ Voice
Batiste has traveled the world extensively with an almost proselytizing spirit, performing both as a solo talent and increasingly with Stay Human in over 40 countries. Here’s an example of a more formal concert performance featuring the group in Spain:
As you can see, Batiste opens with a touching rendition of “Amazing Grace” on the melodica, and then segues into an impressive array of jazz pieces. It’s not all fancy stuff, though. Jon and Stay Human can improvise, and aren’t above covering pop music:
Through his collaboration with Stay Human, Jon Batiste has become passionate about promoting what he terms “social music.” In the recent Esquire interview he explains his definition of social music:
“It’s basically about bringing the music back to a place where anyone can access it, no matter who you are, whether it means playing on the move, playing the subways, the ski slopes, in the desert, playing in different places where music isn’t usually played. Not selling the music; just giving it to people. That’s what social music is about. Giving people the music and giving them the access to it.”
Here’s a taste of subway social music:
And an impromptu, New Orleans-style “love riot” in the streets:
Batiste has also done a bit of acting, appearing in seasons 2 and 3 of the HBO television drama series Treme. He was also cast as T.K. Hazelton in director Spike Lee’s film Red Hook Summer.
‘Social Music’ Meets Mr. Colbert
By the time he had appeared on The Colbert Report in July 2014 to promote his album, Social Music, with Stay Human, Jon Batiste was a seasoned musical performer. What also became readily apparent was his great rapport with Stephen, leading observers and fans alike to believe that he would make a strong contender for the coveted Late Show band leader role.
Perhaps the idea of “social music” isn’t so novel, but in an era of ultra-polished, iTunes-ready, prepackaged music talent, the idea of well established, highly skilled musicians actively shedding any pretensions, going out into the streets (in subways, in cars) and sharing their talent is quite extraordinary.
In many ways, Stephen couldn’t have found a better band leader. Jon is clearly someone who appreciates the importance of yes-anding with people, using his jazz chops to improvise with the crowd and develop an emotional connection. He isn’t afraid of acting, and seems to enjoy performance, has boatloads of energy, and personal flair. His style of musical expression is all about staying spiritually, emotionally, and artistically grounded. With Stephen’s often cerebral, intellectual bent, and Jon’s down-to-earth touch, they together will make a great team and likely, kill it at the Late Show while “staying human.”
Post script: It is also worth noting that Jon Batiste and Stay Human are still very much actively performing (and music mentoring) even during the Late Show transition, continuing their “social music residency” in NYC at various venues throughout the summer. Even an October date is confirmed, according to Batiste’s website. Clearly, the band is not going to slow down their performance schedule, even with the Late Show’s premiere looming.
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Better Know a Band Leader
Welcome to ‘Better Know a Band Leader,’ your guide to Jon Batiste, the newly announced leader of Stephen Colbert’s ‘Late Show’ band.
Although Jonathan Batiste and Stephen Colbert may be a “match made in heaven,” divergent paths led them to find another. Hailing from Kenner, Louisiana, to a prominent musical family, 28-year-old Batiste was exposed to New Orleans-style jazz from a very young age. He played percussion with the Batiste Brothers Band at the age of 8, eventually switching to piano by age 11.
The Batiste Brothers Band, circa 1982.
While in high school, Batiste also attended the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts. At the tender age of 17, he released his first album, Times in New Orleans (2005). The following year brought another release, Live In New York: At The Rubin Museum Of Art (2006). Batiste continued his music education at Juilliard school, where he met fellow Stay Human band members Joe Saylor (drums) and Eddie Barbash (alto saxophone).
Jon’s first album.
On his website’s Q & A, he described his experience of developing musical discipline this way:
After releasing and touring two more albums, In the Night (2008), and The Amazing Jon Batiste! (2009), he was appointed Artistic Director at Large of the National Jazz Museum in Harlem in 2012.
Batiste has traveled the world extensively with an almost proselytizing spirit, performing both as a solo talent and increasingly with Stay Human in over 40 countries. Here’s an example of a more formal concert performance featuring the group in Spain:
As you can see, Batiste opens with a touching rendition of “Amazing Grace” on the melodica, and then segues into an impressive array of jazz pieces. It’s not all fancy stuff, though. Jon and Stay Human can improvise, and aren’t above covering pop music:
Through his collaboration with Stay Human, Jon Batiste has become passionate about promoting what he terms “social music.” In the recent Esquire interview he explains his definition of social music:
Here’s a taste of subway social music:
And an impromptu, New Orleans-style “love riot” in the streets:
Batiste has also done a bit of acting, appearing in seasons 2 and 3 of the HBO television drama series Treme. He was also cast as T.K. Hazelton in director Spike Lee’s film Red Hook Summer.
‘Social Music’ Meets Mr. Colbert
By the time he had appeared on The Colbert Report in July 2014 to promote his album, Social Music, with Stay Human, Jon Batiste was a seasoned musical performer. What also became readily apparent was his great rapport with Stephen, leading observers and fans alike to believe that he would make a strong contender for the coveted Late Show band leader role.
Perhaps the idea of “social music” isn’t so novel, but in an era of ultra-polished, iTunes-ready, prepackaged music talent, the idea of well established, highly skilled musicians actively shedding any pretensions, going out into the streets (in subways, in cars) and sharing their talent is quite extraordinary.
In many ways, Stephen couldn’t have found a better band leader. Jon is clearly someone who appreciates the importance of yes-anding with people, using his jazz chops to improvise with the crowd and develop an emotional connection. He isn’t afraid of acting, and seems to enjoy performance, has boatloads of energy, and personal flair. His style of musical expression is all about staying spiritually, emotionally, and artistically grounded. With Stephen’s often cerebral, intellectual bent, and Jon’s down-to-earth touch, they together will make a great team and likely, kill it at the Late Show while “staying human.”
Post script: It is also worth noting that Jon Batiste and Stay Human are still very much actively performing (and music mentoring) even during the Late Show transition, continuing their “social music residency” in NYC at various venues throughout the summer. Even an October date is confirmed, according to Batiste’s website. Clearly, the band is not going to slow down their performance schedule, even with the Late Show’s premiere looming.
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