Fun
Jon Batiste
Dear Kay,
Over the holidays, I listened to Terry Gross talking with Jon Batiste, the musician and composer who may be familiar to you as the musical director for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
It’s a great conversation, because Batiste is sitting at his piano, so he’s constantly stopping to play a bit of this or that. He’s so agile that it takes my breath away—what I would give to be able to play the piano like that.
Listen to the full conversation right here.
He’s much more than simply a bandleader, which may be one of the reasons he’s such a good bandleader. He thinks about music and all its sources, the intertwining way that a tradition of one style of music informs another one.
He grew up in a well-known musical family in New Orleans, and he absorbed the music of that region the way most people absorb oxygen.
At the age of eight, he was put in front of the family’s band to be the singer, but he detested being in such a visible place. His solution? Learn to play the drums, so he didn’t have to sing anymore. Well, that worked. And years later, he discovered that singing and being in front of an audience was something that he actually did want to do.
Up top is a short video that shows Jon Batiste and his band Stay Human standing in an old fort in Newport, just after their set at the Jazz Festival, bringing us an alfresco performance of his song “Believe in Love.”
My favorite quote from the Terry Gross interview comes when he’s explaining why he loves Bach. “The St. Matthew Passion, I was listening to that maybe yesterday, a couple days ago. It’s about three hours long and just listening to that makes you realize what’s possible. He’s arguably the best at a thing that anyone has ever been in the history of doing a thing.”
That’s arguably the best superlative that anyone has ever said in the history of superlatives.
Love,
Ann
I watched Jon Batiste being interviewed by Anthony Mason last month and was just blown away by his grasp and love of music. And I thought I was a musician!
Loved that video, such a beautiful morning song, thank you!
I enjoyed this ,Thank you!
Yesss. I heard his interview with Terry Gross too. So impressed. Thank you for reminding me to download his new album this sunny Saturday morning.
Isn’t he marvelous? We are blessed here in New Orleans with musical dynasties like the Batistes, Nevilles, and so many others who have a deep knowledge and passion for music. They innovate while –or perhaps by–honoring and weaving différent music traditions to create rich, layered music.
Yes, he’s fabulous. This was a great start to Saturday! Thank you.
I heard the Terry Gross interview with Jon Batiste, also. It was wonderful. Loved how he took off on his favorite children’s song and improvised it in so many ways.
Just lately I listened to one of his music CDs, “Hollywood Africans” and found it so easy to listen too. I do recommend it.
(Borrowed this CD from the library!)
Agree great interview & amazing musician!
I must hear more. Also, totally irrelevant but—I love a snappy dresser. That yellow suit makes me think of Sonya.
I believe!
This is truly a great interview. I heard it a few weeks ago, and have listened 2 more times since!
Thank you! I have the biggest creepy granny crush on the amazingly talented Jon Baptiste, He’s the main reason I watch The Late Show (sorry Stephen)
I got rid of my TV after the election since I prefer to read and listen to NPR. Terry Gross is my favorite beautiful I never have left her interviews without learning something wonderful. Thanks so much for bringing her to attention
Love this so much!
Thank you! My husband is from New Orleans and regularly plays piano so I’ve come to love love love NOLA music. Thanks for sharing. Happily knitting.
He also did a new version of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” for The Atlantic podcast which will give you cold chills. They filmed a video of how he did it, and his thought process, and the man is a genius!
I second that recommendation!
I third it!
Loved the video!
Dear MD-knitters,
Please please more of these. I enjoyed listening to them.
Regards,
Marianne from the Netherlands
I love that superlative! And your take on it!
I saw him perform with Wynton Marsalis at the Greek Theatre at UC Berkeley last year. It was a great concert!
He’s 1,000% right about Bach. Made me like him even more.
love this!