Jon Batiste Names Top 10 Jazz Musicians + Talks Dinner with Stephen Colbert in New Orleans

Grammy nominated, Jon Batiste joins us on Sway in the Morning. He's currently the band leader for the late night shot, The Colbert Report, but he's had a long history before that.
Growing up in a regal family of musicians, Batiste shares stories of learning the drums and later the piano, and perfecting his craft.
Watch below as he names his top 10 jazz musicians, working with Spike Lee and Prince, plus his new album, 'Anatomy of Angels.'
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[@r.s.marcus3043]

He's got that energy. Colbert is an intuitive man - Mr.Batiste is a joyful soul.

[@MerricMaker]

All the folks talking about Batiste's talent. Do not forget that what you hear from him is the result of work. It's rare to have a person with innate talent who is also willing to really put in the work.

[@EarlofSedgewick]

You're right, the talent is from work, and so is the joy... but he's clearly been in a place with himself and his world where the work is self-propagating at its core. He talks about doing spiritual maintenance at times with the Late Show, and it shows that he takes that idea of staying true to oneself seriously. It's evidenced that he could do all that work, all those long hours, intense study, and maintain a level of joy and fulfillment for himself. What's more, he has pursued giving that energy to others as well. A beautiful mission of living, not achieving.

[@deemurphy1545]

Jon is such a joyful man - the hot jazz, the soulful gift, the dancing. Not a day goes by that I don’t reach out for his soul to make my day better👌🏽

[@vividbreeze]

❤️- Jon Batiste is a person I could listen to for hours. It's his positive spirit. Great interview!

[@Rhythmicons]

I just hate how he sings during colbert's jokes. He's more annoying than Paul Schaffer.

[@apolloguitars]

Jon Batiste is just an amazing human. I want to hang with him always. Cheers!

[@PlayaflyJoe27]

He's arguably the best pianist in the game. He's amazing on them keys!

[@PlayaflyJoe27]

ze I said arguably

[@benjaminchin2010]

Had the pleasure of interviewing Jon Batiste for class once and the amount of "ooooooooooohs" he says is legendary. New favorite adlib

[@gd70693]

Jon Batiste is a solid dude from what I see in all of his media appearances and online videos.

[@petersimonson9145]

First saw Stay Human on the Colbert Report in 2014. Blew me away. Best band in nighttime land. Thanks Stephen.

[@youtubebitchcenter1463]

peter simonson How come they never show the band every night just John and the drummer cowboy guy???? Are they not allowed to show the band like Jimmy does with the roots????

[@stregadisalem732]

I had the pleasure of meeting him in my hometown. Such a kind, genuine hearted person.

[@highvibee]

Thank you Jon for all your words of wisdom, so inspiring and encouraging. 🥁🎶🌿

[@marco27c1]

23:00 Nina Simone, Thelonius Monk, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker, Roy Hargrove, Cassandra Wilson, Betty Carter, John Coltrane, Arturo Sandoval.

[@tomkelly4336]

It is so hard to limit to just ten as you leave out so many, Sonny Rollins, Basie and so many singers. Although the beginning and end will always be Pops.

[@boomshotta]

The man is a class act.

[@carlettagoodrichmann1513]

Transcending notes that soothe the soul . Evolutions of dials that express time and wisdom. JOHN write on. And Jazz that sway

[@sugarbear7516]

History matters...when a people forgets its history, they lose their culture and next is their mind/identity. Keep it the good work SWAY!

[@nolasoul71]

Pure genius right here. Shout out to Treme' and Congo Square, where jazz was conceived.

[@oloveshoops94]

Keep your JOY on!!! All love Jon.. so grateful for your Soul n joy!

[@potterydogproduction]

I knew that this was going to be good but it blew me away. Could listen to the two of them talk for hours

[@dorothylsmith3974]

Jon Batiste is an amazing talent , love his music and also listening to his interviews

[@paultucci2628]

Just bought We Are on vinyl in Vermont 2021, thank you Mr. Batiste!

[@QueenDiva]

Great interview!! Love Jon's New Orleans accent!💖💖

[@jacquelinebrewer3643]

Another great interview with Jon Batiste.

[@audiodramatist]

His version of the Beatles *Blackbird* is a classic Black protest song.

[@JoelHernandez-yl6yw]

Finally, we get a musician on here 👏🏽

[@simonkempe1212]

They should have a section on the show where Jon is smacking those rappers around with his little piano

[@larsio72]

Great interview!

[@TheRunner4health]

New Orleans up in here....

[@DavidBagshaw]

Great interview, good way to get to know Jean better.

[@sastrid23]

Luuuved this convesation!! - i`m gonna chk out more of Jon Batiste right now!!!!! ❤️👏🏽🎼

[@jamaalcurry8990]

Talented Musician and Funny Sidekick on the show. Colbert.... Give this man a table on the stage

[@Tedroy]

Much Love!

[@alwaysincentivestrumpethic6689]

Great guy !!! I love Jazz

[@clintoncrawford2063]

I look at the show every night when I'm home. John seema like a really nice guy and I'm sure he's a great player . the band sounds really nice. I totally enjoy the show every time. b.t.w. Colbert is very funny.

[@caylanclimpson4746]

7:30-7:48 !!! JON! Gained another 1000000 points for me. You're an amazing human! Awesome interview. Thank you for transmitting the joy

[@jaysenior88ify]

Man that's crazy I grew up in kennner and never seen him before. Kenner is actually where August Alsina is from as well.

[@muganziaiden]

Humble STAR

[@lillieholmes1376]

Love jazz

[@lordhuebi]

Best guest in years, please have him back soon and definitely get him to play live and bring some MC's!

[@evelinereherreher7049]

Great conversation about the origins of jazz. Thank you. Will Jon Batiste Tour in Germany some time soon?

[@margopadon6972]

My dad introduced me to jazz- Miles and Coltrane, etc., I only heard them as collaborators, cooperators and harmonizing each other. But, then, that’s my vision of what it is to be human, so, my bias.

[@neilcrowesongs9768]

Always quality

[@tephlondandada156]

Don’t forget the great Nat King Cole. Shouts out to all the legends in jazz. Thank you Jon Batiste.

[@fmlv47]

that hoodie is DOPE

[@cheetahEAR]

So much beautiful hair 🔥🔥🔥

[@minitanksandchairs]

I don't know how that could have been better. Ta man.

[@michellemcdougald9850]

Queen enjoying .. bless up .

[@lewhossofdoom]

Before there was hip hop, rnb, rock, funk and even blues... there was jazz!

[@curbmassa]

Nope. Blues came first.

[@chipaonu7390]

🔥🔥🔥

[@zenalchemist3378]

Other worldy. Thanks

[@crowfoot7355]

Sago Jon thank you.

[@JayLandon64]

Thelonius Monk, Miles Davis, Stanley Clarke, George Benson, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Chick Corea, Nina Simone My ten

[@joshp1820]

Lady Day and Fitzgerald; very nice.

[@pahnked]

Add Keith Jarret

[@JayLandon64]

@@pahnked I can only have 10. Who would you have me take off?

[@pahnked]

Difficult, but I would cut Nina Simone

[@aliciad.6088]

Enjoyed this conversation~ Nina Simone (to begin) knew he was heading somewhere~ Miles Davis is necessary....

[@tarvb]

my purple knight brother!

[@peace8373]

The city that care forgot, but music keep the beat. If you lived the life, it is always in your soul. New Orleans is how every city should be, people live, work, and play. But the homogenization, the Corporatization makes most cities seem like just another change of scenery. Let the Good Times Role, please New Orleans keep your soul.

[@Etatdesiege1979]

Peace Amen to that! I lived in Baltimore. There are a lot of parts in that city that still remain authentic and have avoided getting sucked into the dark void that is the beltway lifestyle and zeitgeist. Maybe that’s the reason why every time that I have been to New Orleans I feel the same vibe. There’s no other place like New Orleans in the US.

[@grilledcheese9297]

i like his hair

[@istvansipos9940]

for me, it is Miles Davis. I heard in the movie Collateral how good he was

[@RodNubianKing]

Lol right!

[@istvansipos9940]

@@RodNubianKing yeah. even the hombres in Cartagena loved his myooosic. (I must rewatch the movie now)

[@Goatchild90]

23:00

[@qkranarchist3015]

Drives me crazy on Pandora when I have to thumbs down a favorite artist because my other channel leaks in. I want my instrumental classical channel I made to be separate from my hip hop just for the vibe choice. So many "thumbs down" are not against the artist but just to clean a channel.

[@gregpeterson7849]

Monk, Bird, Miles, 'Train, Bill Evans, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Jaco, Toots, Kieth Jarrett.

[@louisglen1653]

I am surprise he Oscar Peterson wasn't mentioned.

[@astheskylarksings]

He was on the spot... but no Mingus? Mingus is the greatest composer yet to grace this planet

[@skineyemin4276]

He's from New Orleans, so, they have a "from the beginning" perspective since jazz originated there. I mean, one could even argue that 5 of the top 10 was the group with Bird, Dizzy, Powell, Max Roach and Charles Mingus live at Carnegie Hall. However, that is straight bebop.. which is considered a little too "old timey" sounding for hard bop and post Miles fans.

[@iconpoet]

The difference is... the jazz musicians CAN STILL PLAY... I may not like the sound, but I can acknowledge that you can still play. These new rappers CAN NOT RAP.

[@tinydancer8536]

John, would you take your musical talents on tour on a Comedy Caravan and Medicine Show? We need lots of money to help the homeless. And other people would like to support like freedom of speech, truth, democracy, decency, love, healthcare for all and putting an end to war.. So if you are interested, would you please pass this on to Stephen and other friends and family and musicians. Whatever you and Stephen would cook up would be fantastic.

[@ANAMAIBOY]

The 11th guy is pissed.

[@bingochoice]

monk, bird, miles, trane ,chick corea, bud powell, booker little, joe pass, wes montgomery, jaco

[@skineyemin4276]

Here's a "real top" ten Jazz Musicians list #1: Louis Armstrong, Art Tatum, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane. I mean, he left out Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughn, even though, they were not known as "musicians" per se, but, they were 2 of the purest jazz musicians in music history.

[@keithdubois1521]

Sarah was known as a musician, a fine musician a that. She played the piano in a few big bands.

[@keithdubois1521]

Sarah was a musician, she played the piano. Sarah played in a few big bands as well. She apperantly had a good command of all the hip music theory early on. Mile could tell that. Since we are talking about the ladies we must not leave out pianist Mary Lou Williams who played most of the earlier jazz styles as they were being developed. She was also there early on with Charlie Christian and Monk when Bebop was being developed as well.

[@Weedensworld]

LL , krs one, Jay z all are still 🔥

[@kohort1]

How about top ten not named Coltrane, Davis, Hancock, bird, etc.... Ike Quebec, Cal tjader, Mingus, Scott heron, Wes Montgomery, Donald Byrd, Lee Morgan, art blakey, Hubbard, Roy Ayers...I dunno... Not being to musically technical. These top ten generally become what can jump into your head in a whim

[@gregc7699]

No Miles Davis wtf?

[@PlayaflyJoe27]

Greg C yeah that's baffling to me too but he named some juggernaut jazz pioneers!

[@RodNubianKing]

Never Ever Ever Ever invite Kenny G! 😀

[@nicandrews1370]

People dont know that's not real jazz

[@boobtuber06]

NO 'PREZ'??? He a Piano player, NO ART TATUM???!

[@Herehear49]

Unfortunately, these masters are already long gone and forgotten by many of the young players coming up. Thank God we still have their recordings to be inspired by!!! It amazes me that the musicians like Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, Cannonball Adderley, Sonny Rollins, Clark Terry and so many others laid it all down over half a century ago and yet today's popular music is lame as shit. Only the "Industry" could have caused that.

[@boobtuber06]

You're correct, but I think john should really know those two, especially Art

[@bilaljones3635]

He probably knows of them, they're just not in his top 10.

[@DebDavis1]

WTH Sway. You have Jon set up with salesmen!!! We wanted to hear about Jon not Pandora. This was a bad move Sway.

[@immarbell1883]

How so? This is a better way for Jon to get more ears to his music and content which is nothing but a win/win for him and the fans and possible new fans. It's obvious that Jon was not aware of this before so Pandora was just schooling him on the possibilities that their service could provide him. And if you was truly listening, we got to hear about Jon, in fact, I learned more about him than I previous knew and now I'm on streaming services looking up his music. So again, how is this wrong?

[@deborahdavis9927]

@@immarbell1883 in your opinion eh. Jon can and likely has looked into the best way to get his music out. This is just giving a salesman air time - simple!!

[@northernbohemianrealist1412]

I wonder how much her hair weighs.

[@angussstudio6139]

the fake applause is annoying and distracting...just sayin'.

[@brainsareus]

uninformed interviewers... and, fake crowd noise is so corny...