Jon Batiste

I was playing Jon Batiste's I Need You on piano this weekend. His music came to mind earlier today. Jon Batiste inspired me to learn how to play the melodica, an instrument that Batiste describes as "averse to pomposity." The melodica is both playful and a delight to play. Anyway! I decided to listen to some of his other songs, and got into a YouTube rabbit hole of various skits with Stephen Colbert on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, where Batiste served as band leader (of note, he regularly played melodica on the show!).

I was reminded of a video where Batiste, with his band Stay Human, walked through the streets of New York and played music. You can find a few recordings like that on YouTube. I started off this post listening to the music:

"I feel good today, I'm so good today. I feel good, I feel free, I feel fine just being me. I feel good today, oh so good today."

Listening to Batiste's music brings me joy. His uplifting spirit, talent, and personality are delightful.

Batiste, in the video above, says, "You gotta be you, that's it.", then goes to play the melodica, among a crowd of people listening to the music he and his band are producing. Joyful indeed.

Here is another of his recordings, wherein Batiste plays Isn't She Lovely with his band: