At Liberty Podcast
A photo of Jon Batiste.
At Liberty Podcast

Jon Batiste on the Joy of Black Music

February 23, 2023

Play Transcript

29:15 mins

Direct download
All episodes

Today, we’re digging into the archives and sharing one of our most celebratory episodes, because we all need a little joy, right? Please enjoy former ACLU staff attorney Lizzy Watson and her conversation with award-winning artist, Jon Batiste.

You may have seen him on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” where he’s been the music director and bandleader since 2015. You may have heard him on the soundtrack of the Pixar-animated film “Soul” where he performed and composed the jazz portion of the score. Or you may have experienced his live performances in the streets of New York City with his band Stay Human during the pandemic lockdown, the protests of 2020, or during one of his “love riots” – a spontaneous show in the streets where the musicians stand among the crowd and exchange in the energy of the music and the moment.

We’ll talk to him about his New Orleans roots, his most recent album “We Are,” and his commitment to creating music that celebrates his culture and aims to unite us all.

In this episode

Jon Batiste

Jon Batiste

Musician, Composer and Bandleader

(he/him)

One of the most prolific and versatile musicians of any generation, Jon Batiste has spent his career bringing music back to where it started — with the people. Jon was born in New Orleans into the legendary Batiste family, and later studied at the world-renowned Juilliard School in New York City. There, he established the…
Jon Batiste

Kendall Ciesemier

Former Host of At Liberty and Senior Executive Producer of Multimedia, American Civil Liberties Union

she/her/hers

Kendall Ciesemier (@kendallciese) was the host of At Liberty and the Senior Executive Producer of Multimedia at the ACLU. Previously, Kendall worked as a producer and reporter for The New York Times' Opinion section and Mic, a digital media company. Most notably at Mic, Kendall's interview with Alice Marie Johnson, a woman serving a life…
Kendall Ciesemier

Elizabeth Watson

Former Staff Attorney, Reproductive Freedom Project, ACLU

Elizabeth Watson is a former staff attorney with the ACLU's Reproductive Freedom Project.
Elizabeth Watson

This Episode Covers the Following Issues

Related Content