Louisiana--New Orleans
Jon Batiste On Sharing Joy In A Painful Year: 'I Want To Reaffirm People's Humanity'
Batiste is the bandleader of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. In March 2021, he joined us from his home piano, playing songs from his album, We Are, as well as music he wrote for the film Soul.
Former Parole Officer Reflects On His Time Supervising 'The Second Chance Club'
Four and a half million Americans are on probation or parole — more than twice the nation's jail population. Parolees and probationers are required to check in regularly with officials, who are charged with helping them rebuild their lives.
'Fresh Air' Favorites: Bandleader Jon Batiste
This week, we're listening back to some favorite Fresh Air interviews from the past decade. The bandleader for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert let loose at the piano during this 2018 interview.
Sister Helen Prejean On Witnessing Executions: 'I Couldn't Let Them Die Alone'
Sister Helen Prejean is best known for her 1993 memoir, Dead Man Walking, about her role as a spiritual adviser to a convicted killer on death row. The story was adapted into an Oscar-winning film starring Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn. Prejean has accompanied six prisoners to their executions and has been at the forefront of activism against the death penalty.
'In The Moment, You Just Fly': Jon Batiste Lets Loose At The Piano
Batiste, the band leader for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, sits at the piano and demonstrates his "everything in the pot" style of playing. Originally broadcast Sept. 26, 2018.
'In The Moment, You Just Fly': Jon Batiste Lets Loose At The Piano
Music came naturally to Jon Batiste, the leader of Stay Human, the house band for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Growing up outside of New Orleans as part of a large musical family, he says, "I picked up on all of these things that are integral to who I am as a musician without necessarily studying them."