Jon Batiste

Jonathan Michael Batiste (born November 11, 1986) is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, bandleader, television personality and actor. He has recorded and performed with artists including Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Willie Nelson, Doja Cat, Lenny Kravitz, ASAP Rocky, Ed Sheeran, Lana Del Rey, Roy Hargrove, Juvenile, Mavis Staples, and Lauryn Hill. Batiste appeared nightly with his band, Stay Human, as bandleader and musical director on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert from 2015 to 2022.

Batiste also serves as the music director of The Atlantic and the Creative Director of the National Jazz Museum in Harlem. In 2020, he co-composed the score for the Pixar animated film Soul, for which he received an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Grammy Award and a BAFTA Film Award (all shared with co-composers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross). Batiste has garnered eight Grammy Awards from 25 nominations, including an Album of the Year win for We Are (2021). In 2024, Batiste featured in the ensemble comedy-drama film Saturday Night, directed by Jason Reitman, playing the role of musician Billy Preston, as well as composing the film's score.

Early life and education Jon Batiste was born in Metairie, Louisiana, to a Catholic family. He grew up in Kenner, Louisiana. At the age of eight, he played percussion and drums with his family's band, the Batiste Brothers Band. 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. Batiste further developed his piano skills by transcribing songs from video games such as Street Fighter Alpha, Final Fantasy VII and Sonic the Hedgehog.

At 17, Batiste released his debut album, Times in New Orleans. He attended St. Augustine High School and New Orleans Center for Creative Arts with Trombone Shorty in New Orleans and graduated in 2004. He then went on to attend the Juilliard School, receiving a Bachelor of Music in 2008 and a Master of Music in 2011, both in jazz studies. He studied with William Daghlian there. 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.

Career

Early years In 2007, at the age of 20, Batiste made his debut at the Concertgebouw, 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 to Carnegie Hall to produce and perform in his own show, with six young musicians from the Netherlands. 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, including Social Music (2013), which spent over a month at the top of the Billboard and iTunes jazz charts; The Late Show EP (2016) with Stay Human; and a holiday album, Christmas with Jon Batiste (2016). In 2017, he released the singles "Ohio" with Leon Bridges and Gary Clark Jr., as well as "Battle Hymn of the Republic" for The Atlantic. Batiste's cover of "St. James Infirmary Blues" was nominated for a Grammy in 2019, in the category of Best American Roots Performance. Batiste's debut solo album, Hollywood Africans, was released by Verve 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. with the Dap-Kings.

Batiste's career performances include a tribute to Chuck Berry and Fats Domino during the 60th annual Grammy Awards (performing alongside Gary Clark Jr.); the Kennedy Center Honors' tribute to Carmen De Lavallade; the Concert for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama; the National Anthem at the 2017 NBA All Star Game; and Opening Night of the 2017 US Open. He has curated the Global Citizen Advocacy Concert with Tom Morello and the Louis Armstrong Wonderful World Festival in Queens, N.Y.

Batiste was cast in the HBO television series Treme, 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, Batiste named the band Stay 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". Notable artists were often seen accompanying Batiste, including Wynton Marsalis.

In 2011, Stay Human released the album MY N.Y., which was recorded in its entirety on New York City Subway trains, an idea that came to Batiste after questioning how to connect with people.

On April 22, 2017, the band played for the March for Science rally at the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.

In 2014, Batiste and Stay Human appeared on The Colbert Report to perform the group's single, "Express Yourself", written and produced with Austin Bis.

2015-2026: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert On June 4, 2015, it was announced that Jon Batiste and Stay Human would serve as the house band on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The show premiered on CBS on September 8, 2015. However, he still made occasional appearances on the show, including its final episode on May 21, 2026.

2020-2022: Juneteenth Celebration, Soul and We Are

In June 2020, Batiste took part in the Juneteenth 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." Performing on the steps of the Brooklyn Public Library, Batiste was joined by Matt Whitaker in a performance presented in partnership with Sing For Hope. 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 painand 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."

Batiste composed music for the 2020 film Soul, collaborating with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. The trio went on to win the Academy Award for Best Original Score and a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score, among many other wins and nominations.

On March 19, 2021, Batiste released We Are, his fifth solo studio album. Speaking to Atwood 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".

In October 2021, he made a surprise performance at night singing "Like a Prayer" in the streets of Harlem, along with Madonna, promoting the release of her concert film Madame X.

At the 64th Grammy Awards, Batiste earned 11 nominations: eight for We Are, and three for Soul. Of the 11 nominations, Batiste won five awards, including Album of the Year,

2022-2023: American Symphony and World Music Radio On September 22, 2022, Batiste conducted the premiere of his composition American Symphony at Carnegie Hall, New York. A review in Variety 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."

In 2023, Batiste was featured in the documentary film American Symphony, directed by Matthew Heineman, executive produced by Barack and Michelle Obama, which records the process of Batiste composing his first symphony, while his wife, Suleika Jaouad, suffers the return of her leukemia.

2024-2025: Uneasy Tour and Super Bowl LIX

During 2024, Batiste staged his Uneasy Tour, his first concert tour as a headlining act. A review in The Post-Standard characterized it as a "Modern maestro ... display[ing] his magic".

In November 2024, Batiste performed at the National Book Awards in New York City as a musical guest.

In February 2025, Batiste performed the national anthem at Super Bowl LIX accompanied by deaf actress Stephanie Nogueras in American Sign Language.

2025-present: Big Money and Batiste Piano Series 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 with Andra Day, No I.D., and Randy Newman. In 2026, the album won the Grammy Award for Best Americana Album at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards.

On May 8, 2026, Batiste announced three new installments in his Batiste Piano Series to be released the coming summer: Black Mozart, Monk Meditations, and Monk Movements.

Influences and music style 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 and Django Reinhardt. Interviewed by Forbes, Batiste explained the significance of jazz music: In an interview with Uematsu, he said he became interested in composing when he was 10 years old and would play Final Fantasy music on his Kawai keyboard, and then would begin changing the notes to create his own "vision of the thing."

Activism and philanthropy Batiste was born into a family active in the struggle against racial segregation in the United States;

Batiste is a supporter of civil rights and the fight against racism, participating publicly in numerous demonstrations, including the marches promoted by the Black Lives Matter movement. Following the murder of George Floyd in June 2020, Batiste organized peaceful protests in New York City against police brutality in the United States.

Through the single "We Are", he supports the Equal Justice Initiative of attorney and activist Bryan Stevenson. Batiste is also among the sponsors of several initiatives, including the Innocence Project, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and The Legacy Museum. On April 3, 2022, the couple revealed in an interview on CBS News Sunday Morning that they had been married in a private ceremony at home, in February 2022.

Batiste grew up in the Catholic Church and sometimes went to the Baptist Church, and then eventually to the AME Church. He is a Christian, and he has been outspoken about his faith.

Discography

Studio albums Title Details Peak chart positions US USJazz USIndie USR&B/HH AUSHit. CAN FRA GER SWI UKDL Times in New Orleans Released: June 28, 2005 Label: Self-released Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming — — — — — — — — — — Jazz Is Now Released: May 28, 2013 Label: Naht Jona Formats: CD, digital download, streaming — — — — — — — — — — Social Music Released: October 15, 2013 Label: Razor & Tie, Concord Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming 134 1 — — — — — — —__ Christmas with Jon Batiste Released: November 19, 2016 Label: Naht Jona Formats: CD, LP 198 3 11 — — — — — — — Hollywood Africans Released: September 28, 2018 Label: Verve, Naht Jona Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming — 2 — — — — — — — — We Are Released: March 19, 2021 Label: Verve, Naht Jona Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming 25 — — 14 5 81 61 66 39 25 World Music Radio Released: August 18, 2023 Label: Verve, Interscope, Naht Jona Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming 104 — — — — — — — 82 — Beethoven Blues (Batiste Piano Series, Vol. 1) Released: November 15, 2024 Label: Verve, Naht Jona Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming 64 — — — — — — — 50 — Big Money Released: August 22, 2025 Label: Verve, Naht Jona Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming — — — — Black Mozart (Batiste Piano Series, Vol. 2) Scheduled: June 19, 2026 Label: Verve, Naht Jona Formats: CD, digital download, streaming — — — — — — — — — — Monk Meditations (Batiste Piano Series, Vol. 3) Scheduled: TBA Label: Verve, Naht Jona Formats: CD, digital download, streaming Monk Movements (Batiste Piano Series, Vol. 4) Scheduled: TBA Label: Verve, Naht Jona Formats: CD, digital download, streaming "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Collaborative albums Title Details The Process Released: October 21, 2014 Label: M.O.D. Technologies Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming Meditations Released: May 29, 2020 Label: Self-released Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming Swing States: Harmony in the Battleground Released: July 13, 2020 Label: Tiger Turn Formats: Digital download, streaming

Soundtrack albums Title Details Peak chart positions USCurrent USOST UKComp. UKOST Soul: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Released: December 18, 2020 Label: Walt Disney Format: CD, digital download, streaming 69 24 58 12 Jazz Selections: Music From and Inspired by Soul Released: September 24, 2021 Label: Walt Disney Format: LP, digital download, streaming — — — —

Live albums + List of live albums, with selected details Title Details Peak chart positions USJazz Live in New York: At the Rubin Museum of Art Released: May 26, 2006 Label: Self-released Format: Digital download, streaming — — The Music of John Lewis Released: March 24, 2017 Label: Blue Engine Format: CD, digital download 3 — Anatomy of Angels: Live at the Village Vanguard Released: August 2, 2019 Label: Verve, Naht Jona Format: CD, LP, digital download 3 20 Chronology of a Dream: Live at the Village Vanguard Released: November 1, 2019 Label: Verve, Naht Jona Format: CD, LP, digital download, streaming 7 — Live at Electric Lady Released: July 29, 2021 Label: Verve, Naht Jona Format: Streaming — —

Extended plays + List of extended plays, with selected details Title Details Peak chart positions USJazz Label: Verve Format: Vinyl — — Spotify Singles Released: March 27, 2019 Label: Verve, Naht Jona Format: Streaming — — A Little Bit of Soul Released: December 21, 2020 Label: Verve, Naht Jona Format: Digital download, streaming — — We Are the Golden Ones Released: January 12, 2021 Label: Verve, Naht Jona Format: Digital download, streaming — — Jon Batiste: The Nominated Collection Released: April 4, 2022 Label: Verve, Naht Jona Format: Digital download, streaming — —

Singles As lead artist TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum USDig. USAAA USR&B/HH USR&B USRockAir. CANDig. JPNO/S MEXAir. "Rise Up"2014— — — — — — — — "Endless Love"2016— — — — — — — — Christmas with Jon Batiste "Ohio"2017— — — — — — — — "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" — — — — — — — — "Creative" 2019— — — — — — — —Anatomy Of Angels: Live at the Village Vanguard "It's All Right" 2020— — — — — — — — "I Need You" — 2 — — — — — — We Are "Freedom"2021 4 13 group=upper-alpha "Freedom" did not enter the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number two on the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales chart. 2022 — — — — — — — — Diane Warren: The Cave Sessions Vol. 1 "The Light Shines Brightest in the Dark" 2023 — — — — — — — — "Be Who You Are (Real Magic)" — — — — — — 7 —World Music Radio "Calling Your Name" — 21 — — — — — — "Drink Water" — — — — — — — — "Sunshine in the Room" 2025 — 16 — — — — 8 — Changes All the Time (Deluxe) "Big Money" — 22 — — — — 10 — Big Money "Hard Fought Hallelujah" — — — — — — — — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

As featured artist

Awards and honors

Batiste has received several accolades, including being placed in the 2016 Forbes 30 Under 30 music list, 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 the Movado Future Legend Award. 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. In 2018, he was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best American Roots Performance for "Saint James Infirmary Blues". In 2020, he received two Grammy nominations: his album Chronology of a Dream: Live at the Village Vanguard was nominated for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album, and Meditations (with Cory Wong) was nominated for Best New Age Album.

In 2022, Batiste won a Grammy Award for Album of the Year. He was named in Time magazine's 2022 "Top 100 Most Influential People", in the Icons category. Batiste was featured on the 2022 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival's commemorative poster.

In June 2026, CBS News included his song "Freedom" in its list of the 250 essential American songs of the past 250 years.