Superlatives
A Vulture series in which artists judge the best and worst of their own careers.
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Jon Batiste has no interest in fitting neatly into categories.
Their 2014 performance onThe Colbert Reportearned them the gig as theLate Showhouse band before Batiste had even turned 30.
The risk paid off:He is nominated for 11 Grammys, a near record.
.Quickest song to make onWe Are
.
Movement 11 was made in the length of time that it took for me to play it.
The first take on the song feels like youre communicating something beyond comprehension.
.Song that sounds like New Orleans
Boy Hood speaks to my upbringing in detail.
Its collaborators, Trombone Shorty and PJ Morton, were there in New Orleans with me.
Troy and PJ didnt need to be in the room with me to get it.
Tell the truth is the mandate that I would give to everybody in a position of power.
The things that we march about, we just want transparency.
Everybody wants to know whats what and not be manipulated.
Theres a very, very political message in Cry as well.
Its even political, as a Black artist, to be nominated in American Roots for this song.
Each song on the album has a counterpart.
But Bigger Than Us is really special because it shows you the magic of jazz.
And Looking at Life shows you the childlike element of what jazz can be.
And you think,Wow, I have to live some life to get it.
I remember seeing the Muppets on ice when I was a kid.
So that moment was funny and also just cool and full-circle.
I never thought Id be in this kind of situation in my life.
In 2018, Dua Lipa came on the show and we talked about doing a bit together.
I had an accordion on, in an elevator, with Dua Lipa, singing to random people.
And it was just like,Okay, why did we end up here?
.Biggest lesson fromThe Late Show
I started on the front end of my career.
I just graduated from college three or four years prior to starting.
And I was really just getting my vision ofSocial Musicand my vision of my artistry clear.
Then I had this incredible opportunity.
They were all in different positions in their life and careers when they decided to do it.
I remember Ahmir was telling me this was his retirement gig after the Roots.
They were like,We just wanna ride off into the sunset.
Little did he know that it was gonna propel them even further.
And Paul, this was his dream.
For me, I wasnt even pursuing it.
All of those things are irrelevant when it comes to making music and art.
So I love the general categories.
Its He made this body of expression, and we believe that its worth being recognized.
Its not about race, its not about gender.
Being nominated in Classical is also meaningful and humbling because you dont have people like me in that space.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
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