By Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today | Jon Batiste is the definitive musical Renaissance man. From his breakout days as the bandleader on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” to an Oscar win in 2021 for Disney’s “Soul” to earning 11 Grammy nominations in 2022 spanning jazz, classical, roots and R&B categories (he won five, including album of the year for “We Are”) to singing the national anthem at the Super Bowl in his New Orleans hometown this year, Batiste’s musical diversity is unrivaled.
His recently released ninth studio album, “Big Money,” finds Batiste, 38, digging into the heritage of roots music and joined by guests Randy Newman, Andra Day and No ID.
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Calling recently during a two-day run in Madison, Wisconsin, Batiste is delighted to discuss not only his new music, but his love of Joni Mitchell, his collaboration with Beyoncé and how the loss of late-night shows hurts musicians.
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You were Stephen Colbert’s band leader on “The Late Show” for seven years and the late-night genre really gave you and your music such exposure.
I was coming into the show having graduated from college three years prior and I was not looking to do a show like that. But it really was a life-changing experience to be invited into a position with a band working five days a week for 202 shows a year. It really becomes quite an education. As my role in the show evolved and Stephen and I became closer and closer off camera, we would have episodes where he would check in with me and I wouldn’t even play music and we’d talk. When I left (in 2022), it really did feel like the end of a chapter in my life.
How do you feel about the loss of that late-night platform for musicians?
The band is the spiritual power source for these shows. When you’re at home, the tone and the spirit that comes through your TV screen is chiefly created by the band in that room. It is definitely a sad thing to see leave the circulation of culture.
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Go here to read the full interview of Mr. Batiste:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/colbert-s-former-band-leader-says-loss-of-late-night-show-impacts-musicians-too/
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Colbert’s former band leader says loss of late-night show impacts musicians too