Jon Batiste, the acclaimed musician and former late-night bandleader for Stephen Colbert, has a diverse musical taste that spans from punk to jazz. In a recent interview, he shared his honest playlist, revealing the songs that have shaped his life and career.
The First Song I Fell in Love With
Batiste recalls hearing 'Strokin'' by Clarence Carter as a child, played by his father. He knew every lyric by age eight, even though he probably shouldn't have. His earliest musical lessons came from his family, particularly his Uncle Thomas, who sent him jazz recordings of Oscar Peterson, Milt Jackson, Louis Armstrong, and Ray Charles, along with sermons on the Book of Revelations. This eclectic mix taught him about various music genres and the word of God.
The First Singles I Bought
Batiste used to buy records from the used CDs bin at Blockbuster video. His first four purchases were Michael Jackson's 'Dangerous', Björk's 'Vespertine', Erykah Badu's 'Mama's Gun', and Common's 'Like Water for Chocolate'.
The Song I Can No Longer Listen To
Having played Steely Dan's 'Reelin' in the Years' hundreds of times during his tenure on 'The Late Show' from 2015 to 2022, Batiste admits he can no longer listen to it.
The Song That Changed My Life
'When the Saints Go Marching In' holds a special place in Batiste's heart. He played it at his grandmother's funeral, an experience that changed his life. His grandmother is buried in Louisiana, where Mahalia Jackson is also laid to rest.
The Best Song to Have Sex To
Batiste recommends D'Angelo's 'Untitled (How Does It Feel)', describing it as a song with a lot to offer.
The Song That Makes Me Cry
Bach's 'Air on the G String' evokes deep emotion in Batiste. He describes it as feeling like you're looking back on life and you're the last one left. He has played it in various arrangements over the years, including on the piano as a busker in the New York subway at 3am when the city finally slows down.
The Song I Secretly Love
Batiste doesn't believe in song shaming. He enjoys unexpected tracks like 'Giddy Up' by Amyl and the Sniffers, one of his favorite bands. He notes that punk music has a kinetic energy similar to avant-garde jazz.
The Song That Gets Me Up in the Morning
His alarm playlist includes Coldplay's 'Don't Panic', 'Body and Soul' by Art Tatum, and Louis Armstrong's 'What a Wonderful World'.
The Song I'd Like Played at My Funeral
Batiste chooses 'When the Saints Come Marching In' for his funeral.
Jon Batiste's World festival residency is at Koko, London, from 24 to 28 June, on sale via livenation.co.uk.
