Jon Batiste has become the most recent artist to appear on NPR‘s popular Tiny Desk Concert video series. Though the performance was filmed back in November, NPR released the video today, May 4th.
Related: John Fogerty And Family Perform As Fogerty’s Factory On ‘Tiny Desk’ Concert [Watch]
Best known as a jazz, blues, and pop musician, as well as for his work as the house bandleader and musical director for The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Batiste treated the NPR staff and viewers at home to new tunes throughout his four-song performance. Armed with a new band comprised of members Endea Owens (acoustic bass), Negah Santos (percussion), Sarah Thawer (drums), and Celisse Henderson (guitar/vocals)—who fans may know as a member of Trey Anastasio‘s Ghosts of the Forest—Batiste wasted no time launching into the first track, “Cry”.
“Cry” saw Batiste display powerful vocals while performing on his Wurlitzer electric piano. Owens then led the band into the upbeat, hip-hop-inspired “Coltrane”, where Batiste laid down some excellent verses. Before a take on “Tell The Truth”, he took a moment to talk to the viewers, where he unknowingly provided optimism to those who would need it a full six months later.
“We’re playing some music and we’re coping,” he told the room. “The times are in an interesting place, but music is always that universal language that can bring people in a room together, with a tiny desk, and magic happens.”
Batiste then closed out his Tiny Desk appearance with “Tell The Truth” and “I Need You”. Watch the entire performance below.
Jon Batiste – Tiny Desk Concert
[Video: NPR]
Batiste does not have any scheduled tour dates, however, that is probably for the best due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that has halted virtually all live events throughout the country. Be sure to head to his website for the latest tour information and check out Live For Live Music‘s concert cancellation tracker for daily updates on shows around the world.