And don't forget Batiste's duo with Issac Perlman....One of the most moving, extraordinary musical performances I've seen on TV.
9
I needed this song today. What a lovely piece and human. Thank you for this.
5
I'm not qualified to comment on Mr. Batiste's musical skills other than to say what I've heard on the Late Show and his most recent album are impeccable. But I do feel qualified to opine on human character. And from what I've seen in his interactions with the Great Colbert and heard in his recent interview on Fresh Air with the equally great Terry Gross, I'd say that like those two giants, Batiste will a major force in the years to come. Whoever selected him and his talented mates to serve as the Colbert show "House Band" did a very fine job indeed. I particularly love his infectious guffaws and sound effects in response to Colbert's jokes about our nation's Joke-in-Chief.
30
The winds howl, the rain pummels down and then, lo and behold, Jon Batiste is singing for me. thank you so much for making the start of this day so beautiful.
14
It always kind of bothers me that an artist of Jon's caliber must assume the role of stupid, cackling cheerleader for Colbert, much like Ed McMahon was for Jonny Carson. He is obviously not comfortable neither really good at it, and it just distracts from his real talent. Unfortunately that's how late night talk shows work.
7
@Herr Fischer
Agree wholeheartedly. It is painful to listen to his extremely awkward interjections. Batiste simply debases himself.
6
This article left out an appropriate mention of Batiste's impressive background, education and experience. He was a young prodigy who has a Masters from Julliard in composition and performance, and has scored many films and other projects in addition to his band "Stay Human", who are very accomplished in their own right, and Batiste's appearances with other bands and orchestras. He can play anything.
18
Lovely musician and seems like a genuine guy, but I wish he would stop talking over Colbert.
3
@Maggie I wish Colbert would stop talking over Batiste.
17
batiste is so interesting as the musical leader on Colbert's show. he uses a lot of thelonious monk fills in between jokes and gags. I love it as a huge monk fan. those little arpeggios are wonderful musical insider references that I relish. go Jon go.
15
Jon Batiste, I love your sweet goodness on Colbert and your music. You are an American treasure.
18
Without a doubt, one of the most impressive young talents from my home state. I am so proud of him; he makes a terrific partner for Stephen Colbert. Besides his musical talents is his timing; he knows exactly when to hit a Colbert punchline note. Keep on. Any musician from New Orleans, or fan hanging around New Orleans in the 1970's, The Neville Brothers (previously part of the Neville Brothers) are who he reminds me of, only he is more talented in many ways. I remember them opening the Rolling Stones World Tour in the mid '1970s; however, my favorite was 1974 Mardi Gras, when they played from a balcony for the crowd on Bourbon Street. There were so many people, you could not hit the ground if you fell over (from imbibing too much). They were great, but Jon Batiste and Stay Human are better.
4
Jon Batiste has his eyes on the stars and his feet on the ground.
Thanks to him I truly understand the notion of many families
of color or of humble beginnings, wanting their children to know about music.
My folks made me study piano, classical masters knowing
full well I may never be a pianist.
During that time and from then on I had a knowledge, that allowed me to feel part of something bigger. That allowed me to
go to music halls near and far to drink in live music and to feel its
greatness.
46
Like most people, I didn't have a clue who Jon Batiste was when he took over the bandleader spot on Colbert's show. But boy did he impress! What a phenomenal talent and what an amazing man he is. I've been buying his CDs since he began releasing them and the body of work he's building is marvelous. He's right. Music can put you into a mood or bring you out of one. Keep on keepin' on Jon, you and Stay Human are the best band on TV.
53
The performance was exquisite; I've been impressed with him for a long time. But the headline is misleading; it sounds like Jon Batiste's own "world"--his life, his culture, or his music--is flawed. C'mon NYT: you can do a better job than that!
I agree with the comments that we hear almost none of the band's music on tv. Like The Roots on Fallon, these great musicians are never given more than a few seconds to make music for the tv audience, while the producers have the "star" waste lots of time: listening to people clap for him, announcing his next shows, or doing other negligible bits. Network tv: ugh.
24
So great to wake up to Jon’s music this morning. This man is an amazing talent. Wish I lived in his apartment building!
20
I had never heard of Jon Batiste when he was hired for "The Late Show," but it took about two viewings for me to fall in love with this talented, witty, and just plain lovely man. His musicianship was immediately obvious, and on the rare occasions that we get to hear him and his band for more than a few seconds, it's always a treat.
But I was stunned when Itzhak Perlman played on a recent show, accompanied on piano by...Jon Batiste! Who knew that he played classical piano as easily and naturally as he plays the exuberant show theme song! It was a gorgeous moment.
33
The only thing I don't like about the Late Show with Stephen Colbert is how seldom the band's music is featured. Everytime something musical happens on that show I am enthralled. Of course I got 'Hollywood Africans' as soon as it was released, and it's wonderful. More of Mr. Batiste's mashups, please!
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@Michele
If you ever attend a taping of the Colbert Report, one of the highlights is listening to Batiste and his band jam for about 10 minutes before the show starts!
13
@Michele If you were in the studio audience you would hear the band play before the show to warm the audience up, and during the commercials which are frequent and long. They serenade the crowds as they leave the theater. That's a regular concert gig, with some standup and interviews in between.
6
@Daniel It's not the Colbert Report obviously. That was the old show.
It would be great to see more of the band as part of the show. As I am in Scotland, all I ever get to see is the YouTube videos.
3
Most US citizens have no idea of the cultural importance of New Orleans. This article did absolutely nothing to edify that ignorance. Jon Batistte is one of many phenomenal musicians that either come from or make New Orleans home. New Orleans matters, more than ever.
19
@justpaul True, New Orleans has produced so many amazing musicians. There's something in NOLA's dna the begets these amazing talents.
6
We need a longer more in-depth article about Jon Batiste -- this was a like an appetizer -- we need the entree.
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@Amanda Bonner
There was recently a wonderful interview with him on Fresh Air. It was so rich and full that my wife and I agreed that we would love to have him over for dinner and hear him speak further on the nature of music.
12
@Larry Thanks for the info. I'll try to find it online.
4
That rendition of "what a wonderful world" is so lovely. I sent it to all of my friends. I love you.
8
Jon Batiste's performances on the Colbert show are superb, his talents multi cultural from jazz to classical to 'improv', but they are all too brief. I long for him & his band 'Stay Human' to be given a full time slot of his own which the live audience enjoys during the commercial breaks but the TV audience does not. More Jon Batiste, please!
27
Jon Batiste is an excellent musician, but he simply doesn't fit in the Late Show slot. The tv viewing audience hears little of his music and his interplay with Colbert doesn't work--both too much and too little (i.e. too much screen time for the too little enjoyable interchange).
9
@Ann Young-- I love him on the Late Show...his interplay with Colbert is great...granted not enuf of his music where I view it...but YOUTUBE has his music ...
8
My blood pressure just dropped about 50 points thanks to this video. He is a gorgeous and talented man.
As much as I love Colbert - and I dearly love Colbert - getting to hear Jon Batiste and the band in full during the taped commercial breaks was the true high point of seeing the show live.
24
This piece is too short! I wish the editors had given the writer more space to write about Mr. Batiste.
53
My first thought exactly.
10
I love John Baptiste. But this article is pathetic. How did this make it into the NYT. I know literally nothing signficant about him as a result of this article; it goes into no depth about him as a person, his musical upbringing, his educational experience, and on an on. Really just an appetizer of any article without any meat at all.
46
@Adam Orden
Absolutely! Living in the Great White North, we have very little, if any exposure to a talent such as Mr. Baptiste. All I know is what I'm exposed to on the Colbert Show. Jon displayed his musical talent during on of the Late Night Shows playing his piano. WOW! What an amazing event that was. I would like to hear more of his musical talents on TLNS. And how did Jon arrive at where he is today. I would certainly like to read his story. This article misses a major subject area.
6
@Adam - Just listen to that music. That's all you really need. The rest is interesting but it's really just detail.
1
What a gift, this song and Jon Batiste. Thank you.
16
Jon Batiste's performances on the Colbert show are superb, his talents multi cultural from jazz to classical to 'improv', but they are all too brief. I long for him & his band 'Stay Human' to be given a full time slot of his own which the live audience enjoys during the commercial breaks but the TV audience does not. More Jon Batiste, please!
68
His Late Show's theme song lifts me way UP! His rendition of WhatAwonderfulWorld, here, brings me down, down... beautifully down. I'm excited about the Basquiat musical. I hope to make it to the east coast for that :)
7
Mr. Batiste,
I just listened(and watched) your lovely playing on the piano, "What a Wonderful World"(on the NY Times). I was so happy to hear your beautiful rendition of one of my favorite songs.Thank you and I wish you happiness , and I will look for your other work-
You are an amazing singer (with soul) .
Kathleen Dolan, West Hartford, CT
23