Jon Batiste

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Jonathan Batiste (born November 11, 1986)[1] is an

Jonathan Batiste
American singer, multi-instrumentalist, educator, comedian
and bandleader. Born in Kenner, Louisiana, into a family of
musicians, Batiste has collaborated with many acclaimed
musicians in various genres of music, released recordings of
his own, performed in over 40 countries and has appeared as
an actor in both film and television. Most recently, he was
appointed as the associate artistic director of the National
Jazz Museum in Harlem. Batiste regularly tours with his
band, Stay Human,[2] which since September 8, 2015 has
been the house band of The Late Show with Stephen
Jonathan Batiste performs at the 2014 Monterey
Colbert.[3] In 2012, he was listed on ARTINFO as among the
Jazz Festival
"30 under 30" most influential people in the art world.[4] He
received a master's degree from the Juilliard School[5][6] and Background information
currently resides in Washington Heights, Manhattan.[7] Also known as Jon Batiste
Born November 11, 1986
Origin Kenner, Louisiana, United States
Contents
Genres Jazz, blues, pop music, rock, soul,
1 Biography R&B, funk, hip hop, classical
2 Stay Human Occupation(s) Musician, educator, comedian
3 Film and television
Instruments Piano, voice, melodica, electric
4 Discography
5 References bass, Hammond organ
6 Further reading Years active 1998present
7 External links
Associated acts Stay Human, The Late Show with
Stephen Colbert
Website jonbatiste.com
Biography
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. At his
mother's suggestion, Batiste switched to piano at the age of 11.[8]

By the age of 17, he released the first of his two CDs as a band leader entitled Times In New Orleans, featuring
New Orleans musicians including 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. A student at New
Orleans Center for Creative Arts along with Trombone Shorty, Batiste graduated in 2004 before going on to
study at the Juilliard School.[5] While studying at Juilliard he released his second CD, Live in New York: At the
Rubin Museum of Art.

In 2006, Batiste received the Movado Future Legend Award, the only musician to receive the honor for jazz.[9]
By the end of 2006, Batiste had been a featured performer in South Africa, London, Lisbon, Spain, Paris, and
the United States.[10]

In 2007, he made his debut at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, producing and performing his own show. In
addition to the show, he conducted music clinics/master classes and workshops throughout 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 to feature within the program. The performance concluded with a finale he composed
for choir, jazz combo, and orchestral instruments. It was viewed as a hugely successful cultural exchange and
garnered national attention.[10]

Batiste was a featured member of the 2008 NBA All-Star Game

halftime show.[11] Batiste was the youngest artist, performing alongside
Allen Toussaint, Harry Connick Jr., Dr. John, Ellis Marsalis, Art
Neville, Ivan Neville, and Davell Crawford.

Batiste in 2008 during a soundcheck for
Cassandra Wilson at Bluesfest in Ottawa
By 2009, Batiste had released 2 CDs and 2 EPs of his own, and
performed in over 40 countries. In addition to the piano, he chose the
melodica as a passion and adopted it as one of his signatures.[12]
In 2012, Batiste was appointed associate artistic director at the National
Jazz Museum in Harlem as part of the leadership entrusted with the
development and growth of the institution.[2]

Batiste is currently signed with Columbia Artists Management.[13]

In 2013, Batiste joined Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith and bassist/producer Bill Laswell to score
a film that had yet to be written and was ultimately never made. The soundtrack titled The Process was released
on November 4, 2014.[14]

He has recorded or performed with various artists including The Soul Rebels, Prince, Lenny Kravitz, Jimmy
Buffett, and Questlove.

In May 2017, Batiste received an honorary degree from Salve Regina University for his musical achievements
and contributions to Newport's 2014 International Jazz Day.[15][16]

Stay Human
In 2005 Batiste began performing regularly around the New York music scene with his trio, including bassist
Phil Kuehn and drummer Joe Saylor. They first met in 2004. A few years later he recruited Eddie Barbash on
alto saxophone and sometime after that Ibanda Ruhumbika on tuba. They had all attended Juilliard.[17] Batiste
named the band Stay Human and has toured extensively with this quintet in recent years.

Batiste and his band are particularly known for actively engaging with audiences in an effort to create greater
accessibility to and appreciation for the art of live music. The band draws its moniker from the belief that the
human interaction of a live musical performance can uplift humanity in the midst of the "plug in/tune out"
nature of modern-day society. Either on tour or during time off, the band can be seen spontaneously playing in
non-traditional venues and starting impromptu demonstrations through the streets which Batiste and the band
have termed as "Love Riots".[18]

In 2011, Batiste and the Stay Human band released another self-produced CD entitled MY N.Y. According to
Batiste, the album was recorded in its entirety on actively running New York City Subway trains, a concept
which grew from the question of how to connect with people.[19]

On April 22nd 2017, Batiste and Stay Human played for the March for Science rally at the Washington
Monument in Washington D.C.. In the mission statement for the March for Science it states "The March for
Science champions robustly funded and publicly communicated science as a pillar of human freedom and
prosperity."

Film and television

Batiste's first television experience was playing the lead in a Japanese tourism commercial when he was 9 years
old. More recently, he was cast in the HBO television series Treme, appearing in seasons 2, 3 and 4. He was
also cast as T.K. Hazelton in director Spike Lee's film Red Hook Summer.[20] Batiste composed and performed
all of the Hammond B-3 organ music that was a part of the film score. Other film scores composed by Batiste
include the television documentary Duke 91 & 92: Back To Back and the short film Melody Of Choice.[21]

In 2014, Batiste and Stay Human appeared on The Colbert Report to perform the group's single, "Express
Yourself", co-written and produced with Austin Bis. On June 4, 2015, it was announced that the group would
serve as house band of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert .[22][23]

Discography
Times in New Orleans (2005)
Live in New York: At the Rubin Museum of Art (2006)
In the Night EP (2008)
The Amazing Jon Batiste! EP (2009)
MY N.Y. EP (2011) as Jonathan Batiste and the Stay Human Band
Social Music (2013) as Jon Batiste and Stay Human
The Process (2014) with Chad Smith and Bill Laswell
The Late Show EP (2016) as Jon Batiste and Stay Human (band)
Christmas with Jon Batiste (2016) - as the Jon Batiste Trio

References
1. Rose, Lacey; O'Connell, Michael; Sandberg, Bryn Elise; Stanhope, Kate; Goldberg, Lesley (August 28,
2015). "Next Gen Fall TV: 10 Stars Poised for Breakouts" (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/next
-gen-fall-tv-10-817493). The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 2, 2015.
2. Pogrebin, Robin (2012-06-17). "National Jazz Museum in Harlem Plans Expansion" (https://www.nytime
s.com/2012/06/18/arts/music/national-jazz-museum-in-harlem-plans-expansion.html). The New York
Times.
3. Serico, Chris. "And Stephen Colbert's new 'Late Show' bandleader is" (http://www.today.com/popcultu
re/stephen-colbert-names-jon-batiste-new-late-show-bandleader-t24636).
4. "ARTINFO'S 30 Under 30 / Jonathan Batiste Having mastered the music world at a young age he
released two albums by age 17 and then went on to Juilliard the 25-year-old jazz pianist is now
focusing on making his name in the museum community. Batiste has become one of the biggest draws at
the National Jazz Museum in Harlem, where he serves as artistic director. He and his team have been
charged with preparing the institution for its impending move to a new home across the street from the
Apollo Theater" (http://pinterest.com/pin/98164466848474216/). Pinterest.com. Retrieved 2012-09-18.
5. "Jonathan Batiste" (http://www.juilliard.edu/journal/author/jonathan-batiste), The Juilliard Journal
6. "Q&A With Jonathan Batiste" (http://www.juilliard.edu/journal/qa-jonathan-batiste) by K. Leander
Williams, The Juilliard Journal, September 2012
7. "Jazzman Jonathan Batistes credo: Everyone should enjoy the wonders of jazz" (http://www.nydailynew
s.com/entertainment/music-arts/jazzman-jonathan-batiste-brings-jazz-program-harlem-month-article-1.1
215084) by Greg Thomas, Daily News (New York), December 9, 2012
8. The Aspen Institute (2 July 2014). "A Conversation with Jon Batiste: The History & Future of American
Music" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5EQFPLcD_w) via YouTube.
9. "Movado Future Legends Honors Five Emerging Artists of Exceptional Talent" (http://www.prnewswire.
com/news-releases/movado-future-legends-honors-five-emerging-artists-of-exceptional-talent-56593622.
html). PR Newswire. 23 October 2006. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
10. "Award-Winning Jazz Artist Batiste Performs at SU Monday, September 24" (http://www.salisbury.edu/n
ews/article.html?id=5069). Salisbury University. 12 September 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
11. Martel, Brett (2008-02-18). "New Orleans tourism gets boost from NBA All-Star game" (http://www.usat
oday.com/travel/destinations/2008-02-18-new-orleans-all-star-game_N.htm). Usatoday.Com. Retrieved
2012-09-18.
 12. "Stephen Colbert's New Bandleader Could Change Late Night TV" (http://observer.com/2015/07/stephen
-colberts-new-bandleader-could-change-late-night-tv/) by Amanda Wicks, New York Observer, July 24,
2015
13. "Jon Batiste | CAMI Music Official Site" (http://www.camimusic.com/details.asp?webid=2295).
Camimusic.com. Retrieved 2012-09-18.
14. "THE PROCESS, with Bill Laswell, Jon Batiste, and Chad Smith coming this fall!" (http://vimeo.com/10
7069322).
15. "George Wein, Jon Batiste to Receive Honorary Degrees from Salve Regina; Batiste to Give
Commencement Address" (http://whatsupnewp.com/jon-batiste-to-present-2017-commencement-address
-at-salve-regina-university/). What'sUpNewp. 2017-04-12. Retrieved 2017-05-23.
16. salvereginaU (2017-05-22), Jon Batiste Commencement Address - May 21, 2017 (https://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=M6WqtiKBwas), retrieved 2017-05-23
17. Hodges, Bruce (November 2014). "3 Releases From Jazz Grads" (http://www.juilliard.edu/journal/1411/d
iscoveries/3-releases-jazz-grads). The Juilliard Journal. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
18. "#LoveRiot: A Classic "Had To Be There" NYC Moment" (http://joonbug.com/newyork/scenetracker/Lo
veRiot-A-Classic-Had-To-Be-There-NYC-Moment/pYKXZGHIHkh). Joonbug.com. 2012-04-11.
Retrieved 2012-09-18.
19. Blumenfeld, Larry (4 January 2012). "Jonathan Batiste and the Stay Human Band Fill the Subway with
Their Take on Jazz" (http://www.villagevoice.com/music/jonathan-batiste-and-the-stay-human-band-fill-t
he-subway-with-their-take-on-jazz-6433806).
20. Red Hook Summer (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1989593/) on IMDb
21. Jonathan Batiste (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4456022/) on IMDb
22. "Stephen Colbert's new Late Show band leader gave one of The Colbert Report's best performances" (htt
p://www.theverge.com/2015/6/4/8730839/stephen-colbert-late-show-music-jon-batiste). The Verge.
Retrieved 8 June 2015.
23. "Meet Jon Batiste, Bandleader for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" (http://time.com/3907726/jon-ba
tiste-bandleader-stephen-colbert/). Time. Retrieved 8 June 2015.

Further reading
"A Conversation with Jon Batiste". Aspen Ideas Festival. Retrieved 2015-06-07.
Martel, Brett (2008-02-18). "New Orleans tourism gets boost from NBA All-Star game". USA Today.
Retrieved 2008-04-07.
"Movado About Movado". movado.com. Retrieved 2008-04-07.
Kozinn, Allan (January 23, 2008). "Mystical to Muscular: Many Styles in Play at a Keyboard Marathon".
The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-04-07.
Pogrebin, Robin (March 26, 2008). "Louisiana Extols Culture in Recovery". The New York Times.
Retrieved 2008-04-13.

External links
Official website
"Jon Batiste: Staying Human", interview by Bob Kenselaar, All About Jazz, January 2013, re-published
June 7, 2015
The Batiste Family

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jon_Batiste&oldid=795055262"

This page was last edited on 11 August 2017, at 18:31.

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