Jon Batiste Shares Playlist, Announces London Shows
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- Jon Batiste recalled that his first song he fell in love with was “Strokin’” by Clarence Carter, which he heard from his dad and learned the lyrics at age eight.
- Jon Batiste said his earliest musical lessons came from his Uncle Thomas, who sent him jazz recordings of Oscar Peterson, Milt Jackson, Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles, and also sermons like the Book of Revelations.
- Jon Batiste listed the first four records he bought as Michael Jackson’s Dangerous, Björk’s Vespertine, Erykah Badu’s Mama’s Gun, and Common’s Like Water for Chocolate.
- Jon Batiste explained that he can no longer listen to Steely Dan’s “Reelin’ in the Years” because he performed it hundreds of times on The Late Show while part of Stephen Colbert’s house band from 2015‑2022.
- Jon Batiste said the song that changed his life was “When the Saints Go Marching In,” which he played at his grandmother’s funeral in Louisiana, linking him to Mahalia Jackson’s burial site.
- Jon Batiste announced his World festival residency at Koko, London, scheduled for 24‑28 June, with tickets on sale via livenation.co.uk.
Why it matters: Fans gain a rare glimpse into Batiste’s personal musical DNA, while the London residency gives Koko a marquee act and opens ticket sales, directly translating Batiste’s storytelling into a concrete revenue opportunity for the venue and promoters and reinforces his brand as a cross‑genre artist.
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