Jon Batiste and Stay Human, In-Studio (From the Archives)

Published: April 20, 2020, 4 p.m.

Pianist, composer, and bandleader Jon Batiste comes from a long line of New Orleans musicians, and got his start playing in his family’s band as a percussionist when he was just 8. Now based in New York as the musical director for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, we sometimes forget what a formidable musician he is. Jazz, funk, R & B, even classical music – he plays it all. It’s clear that most chances he gets, he’d gladly lead a parade just about anywhere with his “mouth piano,” but for this archival edition of the podcast from 2011, Jon Batiste (Jonathan, as he was known then) and Stay Human performed in-studio.

Jon Batiste is a musician, composer, bandleader on The Late Show with Stephen Colbertmusic director for The Atlantic magazine, and co-artistic director of the National Jazz Museum in Harlem.