Choose artist...
Home   >   Projects   >   We Are
Jon Batiste

We Are

Verve

Press Release

Read press

Artist Details

Read bio

Website

Visit
I NEED YOU
CRY (Lyric Video)
Lightning 100 is In conversation with Jon Batiste
SING ft. Tori Kelly
SING Vocal Showcase (NEW MIXED Bb5!!!)
SING (Visualizer)
Jon Batiste - FREEDOM
2022 GRAMMYs Acceptance Speech
FREEDOM | 2022 GRAMMYs Acceptance Speech
ET Canada feature
JAZZ NIGHT IN AMERICA
Stephen & Jon's Cartoon Thanks-Travaganza
Lang Lang plays 'Chopsticks' with Jon Batiste
1 WE ARE  
2 TELL THE TRUTH  
3 CRY  
4 I NEED YOU  
5 WHATCHUTALK  
6 BOY HOOD  
7 MOVEMENT 11'  
8 ADULTHOOD  
9 MAVIS  
10 FREEDOM  
11 SHOW ME THE WAY  
12 SING  
13 UNTIL  
Show all tracks
Hide

"We Are represents a vivid turn from straight jazz to joyful, danceable pop and neo-soul…a bold declaration of conscience…"Vanity Fair  

"dedicated to the dreamers, seers, griots and truth tellers who refuse to let us fully descend into madness" - Jon Batiste

WE ARE represents a completely new sonic chapter for Golden Globe winner and Oscar nominated recording artist and activist Jon Batiste. Inviting some of the most esteemed creative minds to assist in birthing the album, he reached the finish line smack in the middle of the first wave of the worldwide pandemic and volatile social unrest. The result is a body of work characterized by the consciousness of Marvin Gaye, the grounded optimism of Stevie Wonder, the iconoclasm of Thelonious Monk and the swagger of Mannie Fresh.

Alongside songwriter Autumn Rowe and producer Kizzo, Batiste wrote and planned much of the project in about a week from his dressing room at The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, where he's the musical director and bandleader. WE ARE was recorded in New York, Los Angeles and in his native New Orleans, melding inspiration from his new home and new collaborators with that of the Batiste musical dynasty. The album was also recorded in between sessions for Disney/Pixar's 2020 hit film Soul­, which saw Batiste's music - and hands - incorporated into the animation about a teacher who dreams of being a jazz pianist.

On WE ARE, Batiste presents a captivating musical experience to the world rooted in catharsis, joy, freedom, contemplation and sensuality. It's a love letter to his southern roots and the heritage of Black Music with guest appearances by Mavis Staples, Quincy Jones, Zadie Smith, PJ Morton, Trombone Shorty, St Augustine Marching 100, his father Michael Batiste, grandfather David Gauthier and many more. It is a meditation steeped in the sounds of the times with collaborators including POMO (Anderson.Paak), Ricky Reed (Lizzo), Jahaan Sweet (Drake, Eminem) and others. 

"I'm publicly known for some things already," says Batiste. "But there's so much more to know about me. It's always been there. Now is the time to show the world my full artistry."

Batiste continues, "WE ARE is a message of love for humanity, of humble reverence for our past, and of a hopeful future, in which we are the ones who can save us. The art reveals its motive to you. You just have to wait for the Spirit to tell you what it wants."

  • Jon Batiste & 'We Are' wins 3 at 26th offBeat Magazine 'Best Of The Beat' awards
    Posted At: November 10, 2022 12:00 AM
    One of the most prolific and versatile musicians of any generation, Jon Batiste has spent his career bringing music back to where it started — with the people.Jon was born in New Orleans into the legendary Batiste family, and later studied at the world-renowned Juilliard School in New York City. There, he established the Stay Human band which became famous for their musical virtuosity and their signature st...
    Bookmark and Share

  • On a classic episode of The Third Story, Jon Batiste reveals the musical advice that guided him / WBGO
    Posted At: May 3, 2022 12:00 AM
    WBGO's Leo Sidran…..Before he reigned supreme at the Grammy Awards, before he was an Oscar-winning composer (for Pixar’s Soul), before he was bandleader for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and well before he’d become one of the rare jazz artists considered a household name, Jon Batiste was simply a rising star of the piano, making what he called “social music.”Batiste hails from Kenner, Louisiana, a sub...
    Bookmark and Share

  • Why the Grammys Couldnt Resist Jon Batiste / The New York Times
    Posted At: April 4, 2022 12:00 AM
    The jazz pianist is an inheritor more than an innovator, but he puts the past to use in service of fun, blending genres and embodying the pleasures of his hometown, New Orleans.The New York Times - Giovanni Russonello writes….Accepting the Grammy for album of the year on Sunday night, Jon Batiste delivered a minute-and-a-half manifesto that belied his roots in the musical culture of New Orleans.He telegraph...
    Bookmark and Share

  • Ten tracks by Jon Batiste LONDON JAZZ NEWS can't do without
    Posted At: February 21, 2022 12:00 AM
    For the LJN “10 Tracks I Can’t Do Without” series, in which jazz musicians do a deep (and entirely personal and selective) dive into the music of their idols, singer-songwriter Lara Eidi (*) picks some of her favourite Jon Batiste moments: Lara Eidi writes….In the chaotic industry that is contemporary music, Jon Batiste has managed to stay true to the thing that motivates him: simply, his love for music and...
    Bookmark and Share

  • Everything you need to know about Jon Batiste / ET Canada
    Posted At: January 25, 2022 12:00 AM
    One of the most prolific and versatile musicians of any generation, Jon Batiste has spent his career bringing music back to where it started — with the people.Jon was born in New Orleans into the legendary Batiste family, and later studied at the world-renowned Juilliard School in New York City. There, he established the Stay Human band which became famous for their musical virtuosity and their signature st...
    Bookmark and Share

  • Jon Batiste - We Are makes Florida Weekly's top 10 albums of 2021
    Posted At: January 6, 2022 12:00 AM
    Florida Weekly's ALAN SCULLEY…..When 2021 began, the consensus seemed to be that this could be a special year for music. Artists had been home since early 2020, giving them an extended block of time to work on new music. For the most part, those expectations panned out. The new releases from Jon Batiste, Adele and Judith Hill immediately popped with album-of-the-year excellence. And if those albums made the...
    Bookmark and Share

  • Riff's favorite concerts of 2021 is starring Jon Batiste at BottleRock Napa Valley
    Posted At: December 29, 2021 12:00 AM
    Riff - Roman Gokhman writes…..Concerts began returning in 2021 as artists cautiously hit the road, still balancing their safety and health with their livelihoods. Some of us couldn’t wait to step back into the clubs, arenas and festivals, while others are still waiting and hoping the pandemic gets squashed completely. A few of us compiled a list of our favorite shows, including the likes of Jon Batiste at B...
    Bookmark and Share

  • Jon Batiste - We Are makes OffBeat Magazine's '50 Best Albums Of 2021 In Louisiana Music'
    Posted At: December 29, 2021 12:00 AM
    OffBeat Magazine writes….The COVID pandemic continued in 2021, making the presentation of live music difficult, and during a spike in infections, nearly impossible. Over the course of the year, fewer albums than usual were released with musicians more often issuing singles and EPs instead of full-length records. Nevertheless, in 2021 there were more than 150 album releases (that we are aware of) some of whi...
    Bookmark and Share

  • Jon Batiste - Freedom makes npr: World Cafe 'Heavy Rotation: Public Radio's Most Popular Songs Of 2021'
    Posted At: December 14, 2021 12:00 AM

    Each month, NPR Music asks music programmers, station hosts and producers across the country to pick the songs they can't stop spinning. Now, as we look back on our favorite songs, albums and artists of 2021, we're highlighting some of public radio's most-loved songs of the year. The list includes; Jon Batiste, "Freedom."   WRTI: Philadelphia - Matt Silver writes.....This sugary ...
    Bookmark and Share

  • Jon Batiste - Cry makes 88.5KNKX: Best of the Blues 2021
    Posted At: December 8, 2021 12:00 AM

    88.5KNKX - John Kessler writes....Many of these artists were new discoveries for me this year, which gives me much hope that blues music has a bright future. Blues is certainly evolving as a musical form, and it's a very interesting time to be a listener and a fan. Among John's favorite songs of the year is Jon Batiste - "Cry" from his Verve album 'We Are.'        John wri...
    Bookmark and Share

  • Jon Batiste - WE ARE makes consequence: top 50 songs 2021
    Posted At: December 7, 2021 12:00 AM

    consequence writes......The year's best albums built idea on idea, theme on theme, one track at a time. Some explored the heaviness of life and death, and others provided us with all the joy we were missing from the world at large. What they have in common is an awareness of how to place a thought next to another thought, building in richness and complexity. These are the 50 best albums of 2021.  &n...
    Bookmark and Share

  • Jon Batiste releases deluxe edition of his critically-acclaimed Verve album 'We Are' / JAZZIZ
    Posted At: October 21, 2021 12:00 AM

    JAZZIZ MATT MICUCCI writes.....The Week in Jazz is your roundup of new and noteworthy stories from the jazz world. It's a one-stop destination for the music news you need to know. Let's take it from the top. Musician/activist Jon Batiste has released a Deluxe Edition of his critically-acclaimed album We Are via Verve, which celebrates Black American culture and music while exploring themes of...
    Bookmark and Share

  • Nominees announced for 2021 Jazz FM Awards
    Posted At: September 1, 2021 12:00 AM

    The nominees for the Jazz FM Awards 2021 with PPL and PRS for Music have been announced, once again recognising a diverse array of artists from the UK and abroad who have made a significant impact on the genre. The Jazz FM Awards 2021 will celebrate music created and released between 1st January 2020 to the end of May 2021 to reflect the jazz community's enduring creativity and innovation during the pand...
    Bookmark and Share

  • Jon Batiste's 'Sweet Lorraine' makes Jazziz: New Release Cheat Sheet
    Posted At: August 6, 2021 12:00 AM

    Jazziz - MATT MICUCCI.....If you're looking for some great new music to discover this weekend, look no further than our weekly New Release Cheat Sheet.   Jon Batiste's take on Nat "King" Cole's classic "Sweet Lorraine" is the first single from Relief: Benefit for the Jazz Foundation of America's Musicians' Emergency Fund. The record is an unprecedented, star-studded collection from America's...
    Bookmark and Share

  • Jon Batiste - 'I Need You' makes MPR - The Current: 50 Best of 2021 So Far
    Posted At: June 19, 2021 12:00 AM

    MPR - The Current, Jade writes....We've been rolling out six new songs once a week - every Thursday - this year, and as we're nearing the halfway mark of 2021, we're putting together the 50 best songs of the year so far. Follow along the entire week of June 21 as we reveal 10 tracks each day. The love and affection Jon Batiste has for blues, R&B, funk, soul, and hip hop comes across l...
    Bookmark and Share

  • Jon Batiste on his new album; 'We Are' / NPR - Weekend Edition Sunday
    Posted At: April 4, 2021 12:00 AM

    WE ARE represents a completely new sonic chapter for Jon Batiste. Inviting some of the most esteemed creative minds to assist in birthing the album, he reached the finish line smack in the middle of the first wave of the worldwide pandemic and volatile social unrest. The result is a body of work characterized by the consciousness of Marvin Gaye, the grounded optimism of Stevie Wonder, the iconoclasm...
    Bookmark and Share

  • Jon Batiste - We Are is a love letter to his Southern roots and makes JAZZIZ: New Release Cheat Sheet
    Posted At: March 24, 2021 12:00 AM

    Jazziz - MATT MICUCCI writes.....If you're looking for some great new music to discover this weekend, look no further than our weekly New Release Cheat Sheet. This week, we bring you the first of a series of new singles by Joey Alexander on Verve Records, a dramatic track from Vijay Iyer's forthcoming visionary album, new music from Jon Batiste and more. Jon Batiste's forthcoming genre-defying album,...
    Bookmark and Share

  • Jon Batiste does virtual session with The Current
    Posted At: March 24, 2021 12:00 AM

    Jon Batiste joins The Current for a virtual session, hear a few recent songs plus a conversation with Sean McPherson about the influence of New Orleans on his music, setting his intentions with Stevie Wonder, and recording music outside of a traditional studio environment. This session was previously recorded in front of a live virtual audience of Minnesota Public Radio members.  SEAN MCPHE...
    Bookmark and Share

  • Jon Batiste's 'Movement 11' & 'Sing' featured on capradio: Saturdays At 6
    Posted At: March 23, 2021 12:00 AM

    WE ARE represents a completely new sonic chapter for Jon Batiste. Inviting some of the most esteemed creative minds to assist in birthing the album, he reached the finish line smack in the middle of the first wave of the worldwide pandemic and volatile social unrest. The result is a body of work characterized by the consciousness of Marvin Gaye, the grounded optimism of Stevie Wonder, the iconoclasm of T...
    Bookmark and Share

  • Jon Batiste - We Are is the JazzFM: Album of the Week
    Posted At: March 22, 2021 12:00 AM

    WE ARE represents a completely new sonic chapter for Jon Batiste. Inviting some of the most esteemed creative minds to assist in birthing the album, he reached the finish line smack in the middle of the first wave of the worldwide pandemic and volatile social unrest. The result is a body of work characterized by the consciousness of Marvin Gaye, the grounded optimism of Stevie Wonder, the iconoclasm...
    Bookmark and Share

  • Jon Batiste's 'We Are' reclaims folk music / Forbes
    Posted At: March 19, 2021 12:00 AM

    Forbes Andrea Bossi writes......Louisiana born and Grammy-nominated musician Jon Batiste released his new album, WE ARE. Through a rich mix musical styles, from jazz to melodic rap, he tells stories of boyhood, joy, overcoming and love with 13 songs. To create a body of work like this, Batiste traveled deep into his roots, life experiences, and ideas about the future. During his journey, he learned more ...
    Bookmark and Share

  • Jon Batiste 'We Are' review on Round Mountain, CA - 88.5KKRN
    Posted At: March 5, 2021 12:00 AM

    WE ARE represents a completely new sonic chapter for Jon Batiste. Inviting some of the most esteemed creative minds to assist in birthing the album, he reached the finish line smack in the middle of the first wave of the worldwide pandemic and volatile social unrest. The result is a body of work characterized by the consciousness of Marvin Gaye, the grounded optimism of Stevie Wonder, the iconoclasm...
    Bookmark and Share

  • Lightning 100 is In conversation with Jon Batiste
    Posted At: February 3, 2021 12:00 AM

    Lightning 100 - Nashille Taylor Lomax writes....Jazz musician Jon Batiste has had a whirlwind past year. Known primarily as the musical director on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, he's pursued a variety of projects recently. Back in June, Batiste performed at the Brooklyn, NY Juneteenth celebration. Lastly, and perhaps most notably, he collaborated with dream-team Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross o...
    Bookmark and Share

  • Jon Batiste will release a powerful, genre-defying new album; 'We Are' / JAZZIZ: The Week in Jazz
    Posted At: February 1, 2021 12:00 AM

    JAZZIZ' MATT MICUCCI writes....The Week in Jazz is your roundup of new and noteworthy stories from the jazz world. It's a one-stop destination for the music news you need to know.  Jon Batiste will release a powerful, genre-defying new album that aims to fuse the sound of early 20th-century black social music with modern pop production and a hint of hip-hop storytelling. We Are, out via Verv...
    Bookmark and Share

  • Jon Batiste - 'I Need You' makes Jazz FM: A List & 'Breakfast Track of the Week'
    Posted At: January 29, 2021 12:00 AM

    Multi Grammy & Emmy nominated recording artist, TV star and activist Jon Batiste announces a new single "I Need You" from his forthcoming ‘black pop' album WE ARE. The album is set for worldwide release on March 19 (Verve Records). On "I Need You" Batiste showcases his vocal range, accompanied by his once-in-a-generation musicianship. Produced and written in collaboratio...
    Bookmark and Share

  • Jon Batiste - 'I Need You' is a vibe cleanse and makes 'HYPEBEAST: Music Projects You Missed This Week'
    Posted At: January 29, 2021 12:00 AM

    HYPEBEAST's Sophie Caraan writes..... As we power through another working week, HYPEBEAST has rounded up a carefully curated list of Music Projects You Missed This Week. This selection includes a full-length release from Mica Levi, an EP from Jordan Mackampa, new singles and visuals from Duke Deuce, Jon Batiste, Markee Steele and serpentwithfeet and collabs from Knxweldge and Khruangbin, YBN Nahmir a...
    Bookmark and Share

  • Jon Batiste - 'I Need You' makes MusicSavage - #HotTakes
    Posted At: January 29, 2021 12:00 AM

    This week's MusicSavage - #HotTakes......Songs that we think you should hear without all the pomp and circumstance features;  Jon Batiste - 'I Need You.' Multi Grammy & Emmy nominated recording artist, TV star and activist Jon Batiste announces a new single "I Need You" from his forthcoming ‘black pop' album WE ARE. The album is set for worldwide release on March 19 (Ve...
    Bookmark and Share

  • Jon Batiste lindy hops his way through 'I Need You' / boingboing
    Posted At: January 25, 2021 12:00 AM

    Multi Grammy & Emmy nominated recording artist, TV star and activist Jon Batiste announces a new single "I Need You" from his forthcoming ‘black pop' album WE ARE. The album is set for worldwide release on March 19 (Verve Records). On "I Need You" Batiste showcases his vocal range, accompanied by his once-in-a-generation musicianship. Produced and written in collaboratio...
    Bookmark and Share

  • Jon Batiste spreads joy with 'I Need You' / 88.3WBGO
    Posted At: January 22, 2021 12:00 AM

    "It's got to be an experience. It can't be something that's like a museum piece." 88.3WBGO's NATE CHINEN writes.....Jon Batiste offered that assessment about jazz back in 2014, during a conversation with Walter Isaacson. He was talking about refurbishing the music's appeal for a younger generation - making its mission, and even its history, feel vibrant in the present tense. Batiste has kept ...
    Bookmark and Share

  • 'Music Unites' hosts 'MusicVersity,' which teaches students the music industry virtually / Spectrum News 1
    Posted At: July 20, 2020 12:00 AM

    Working to empower high school students through music education, Music Unites is a nonprofit foundation founded by Michelle Edgar, an agent at ICM Partners in Global Branded Entertainment and Concerts. The nonprofit just launched its summer program, Music Unites: Summer 2020 MusicVersity, in partnership with the Compton Unified School District. A Nonprofit company, Music Unites is hosting their free ...
    Bookmark and Share

  • 90.7WWOZ: New Orleans announces 'The Next Fest Thing' radio festival / LIVE FOR LIVE MUSIC
    Posted At: July 13, 2020 12:00 AM

    WWOZ 90.7 FM New Orleans has announced a follow-up to April's "Festing In Place" virtual festival, dubbed "The Next Fest Thing". Artists such as Dr. John, Jimmy Buffett, The Neville Brothers, and more will take part in the festival that runs from Friday, September 4th to Sunday, September 14th. Produced in cooperation with the Archive of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, "The Next Fest ...
    Bookmark and Share

  • Jon Batiste celebrates the late Roy Hargrove with a cool funky vibe on 'Chronology Of A Dream' / O's Place
    Posted At: March 31, 2020 12:00 AM

    Pianist and composer Jon Batiste is a young, energetic powerhouse full of the Crescent City party spirit. They start with an all out jam on "Blacck" that continues through "PWWR" fully engaging the audience in the celebration. We caught a taste of ragtime on "Kenner", Jon's bow to his hometown (a New Orleans suburb).  Batiste celebrates the late Roy Hargrove with the cool funky vibe of "Soulful". He...
    Bookmark and Share

  • Jon Batiste chats with Southern California Radio - 89.3KPCC
    Posted At: January 11, 2020 12:00 AM

    Southern California Radio's 89.3KPCC host, Jon Horn talks with pianist and "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" bandleader Jon Batiste about his musical influences that span his New Orleans roots, Thelonious Monk and the theme for the Sonic the Hedgehog video game. Batiste also reveals what first bonded him with Stephen Colbert and how he thinks about the power of music. Batiste's latest rele...
    Bookmark and Share

  • Jon Batiste - Chronology Of A Dream nominated for offBEAT '2019 Best Of The Beat Awards'
    Posted At: December 26, 2019 12:00 AM

    OffBeat solicited nominations from musicians and many others in the music community. We then gave the results to our writers and editors and with input from both, determined the nominations in each category. Click here to vote! The public starts voting on December 26 at OffBeat.com and voting ends on January 15.  Winners will be announced at the Best of the Beat, which will be held at the New Orlean...
    Bookmark and Share

  • John Batiste 'Live at the Village Vanguard' is bubbling over with excitement and enthusiasm / Jazz Weekly
    Posted At: November 25, 2019 12:00 AM

    This six song album by Jon Batiste is the second release to his residency last year at the famed Village Vanguard, and it's bubbling over with excitement and enthusiasm. Batiste's musical and life worldview is reflected in the liner notes that quote St. Irenaeus as writing "The glory of God is a human being fully alive." Batiste's gig with his large ensemble is a joyful noise unto God, with Batiste preac...
    Bookmark and Share

  • Jon Batiste - Chronology Of A Dream / 91.1WTJU
    Posted At: November 23, 2019 12:00 AM

    WTJU: Charlottesville VA - New jazz ADD's for the week of 11/19/19 include; Jon Batiste – Chronology Of A Dream: Live At The Village Vanguard (Verve): "My compositions on ‘Chronology of a Dream' focus on thematic development within short form structures with memorable melodic themes," Batiste wrote of the release on Twitter." (https://lab.fm/genres/jazz/jon-batiste-releases-live-albu...
    Bookmark and Share
Go to artist details