Some musicians have extraordinary talent that transcends a simple description, or single genre. These exceptional musicians have natural gifts that they tenaciously nurture, always challenging themselves and broadening their skills. Jon Baptiste is one of those musicians. Born into a musical family in Louisiana, he played in his family’s band as a young boy, started taking piano lessons, learning classical repertory and transcribing video game music, and going on to earn Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from The Juilliard School. You may know his artistry as the bandleader and musical director on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. He is also Music Director of The Atlantic, and Co-Artistic Director of The National Jazz Museum in Harlem. Today’s Beautiful Music features Jon Batiste transforming music by Johann Sebastian Bach. Genius meets genius. You can also watch him in an improvisatory collaboration with pianist Lang Lang playing — of all things! — Chopsticks. The simple tune as you’ve never heard it before!
(8) Saturday Sessions: Jon Batiste performs “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” – YouTube
(8) Lang Lang, Jon Batiste – Chopsticks – YouTube
All Stories by Jon Batiste – The Atlantic
Jon Batiste | Home (jonbatisteofficial.com)