Jon Batiste: The Soul of a New Jazz Era
Few artists embody jazz music’s crossroads of tradition and innovation like Jon Batiste. Hailing from a musical dynasty in New Orleans, he is a bridge between the soulful rhythms of his hometown and the bold, genre-defying creativity of today’s jazz scene. From his early days on stage with Roy Hargrove’s Big Band to his groundbreaking success with The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Batiste has built a career centered on joy, collaboration, and the spirit of transformation — all of which will be on full display at the inaugural NoMad Jazz Festival.
Batiste is the son of bassist Michael Batiste, and part of an impressive musical lineage that includes the late Russell Batiste Jr., a funk drummer. Jon’s upbringing was steeped in the traditions of New Orleans, from gospel and soul to brass band parades.
Batiste honed his talents at the Juilliard School in New York City, where he studied classical piano and composition, blending his Southern jazz roots with formal training. During these formative years, he began playing and touring with the late, great Roy Hargrove and his Big Band — an experience that would leave a lasting impression.
Guitarist Saul Rubin, who toured Europe with Batiste as part of the Hargrove Big Band, recalls, “Jon was a lot of fun, with a positive attitude. He had that real New Orleans showmanship — friendly and out there — in a good way. He was a hard worker, always hustling and talking to people.”
One of Batiste’s cherished memories of Hargrove was from the legendary Village Vanguard, where he was introduced to the depth and complexity of Hargrove’s musical genius. Later, Batiste recorded two live albums at the famed jazz club the same week Hargrove made his transition to the next realm. Batiste dedicated both albums to him.
Batiste’s time with Hargrove couldn’t help but influence the performer’s tendency toward joyful disruption — a philosophy he brought to NoMad. His Social Music Residency at the NoMad Hotel with Stay Human remains legendary, transforming the hotel into a living jazz experiment. One of the most memorable highlights of his time there was a nighttime procession down Broadway through the NoMad Piazza, where he and his band led a musical parade from the NoMad Hotel to 11 Madison. This electrifying moment exemplified the spontaneous and communal spirit of jazz.
Batiste’s star rose quickly. He became the bandleader for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, where his charisma and musical talents reached millions. In 2022, he won five Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year for We Are, a record that bridges spiritual jazz, pop, soul, and protest music.
His creative output hasn’t slowed. In 2023, Batiste released World Music Radio, an adventurous global journey featuring artists like Lana Del Rey and Lil Wayne. Most recently, Batiste dropped The New Orleans Collection, a 15-track tribute to the musical heartbeat of his hometown.
Batiste also maintains a presence on the international stage through his involvement with the Montreux Jazz Festival, and more recently, the Montreux Miami Jazz Festival, where he continues to push boundaries in collaborative and solo performances.
As the NoMad Jazz Festival celebrates its inaugural year, it is a powerful tribute to the legacy of Roy Hargrove and the artists shaped by his enduring influence — including Jon Batiste. Featuring a performance by the Roy Hargrove Big Band, the festival honors the lasting musical bonds Hargrove fostered, while also spotlighting the rising voices poised to carry jazz into the future. In sharing its stage with the world, the NoMad Jazz Festival reminds us that jazz is a living, breathing force that continues to evolve, reverberating through people like Batiste and Hargrove, over time, and throughout communities like NoMad.