Like Wynton Marsalis, Jon Batiste was born into a musical family with roots in New Orleans. While attending Juilliard in New York, he began playing out in a trio that later grew into the Stay Human ensemble. "Stay Human is not only a band name but a philosophy," Batiste explained to the Chicago Chapter while touring at Lollapalooza 2014, "the philosophy that a live musical experience can really change your life." Traveling around the world, the team has brought their live act to deserts, ski slopes, and countless town squares. The year after this wide-ranging interview, Jon Batiste & Stay Human became TV regulars as the house band on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert." Describing "the power of a genuine human exchange through live music," Batiste said, "We call it a 'love riot,' a kinetic energy when people just … they get crazy, but it's not like they're hurting each other, so it's love."
Esperanza Spalding: From Jazz Bassist To Smithsonian Curator
