Grammy-winning musician Jon Batiste released his latest album, *Big Money*, in August 2025 and launched a tour that included a performance at the Hollywood Bowl. The composer and multi-instrumentalist, who served as the bandleader for *The Late Show with Stephen Colbert* for seven years, describes his approach as "social music," a style intended to unite listeners across different backgrounds.
Batiste grew up in Kenner, Louisiana, and began playing piano at his mother’s urging after spending much of his early childhood barely speaking. He later moved to New York to attend Juilliard, where he told *60 Minutes* he improvised his way through a sight-reading audition despite being unable to sight-read music at the time. During his studies, he began leading "love riots"—impromptu musical performances in public spaces like the New York City subway—to test his theories on the connective power of music.
The recording process for *Big Money* involved live takes in the studio, a method Batiste described as an "antidote" to what he termed "fraudulence" in the modern era and the advent of artificial intelligence. The album features collaborations with artists such as Andra Day and 81-year-old Randy Newman. Batiste and Newman recorded the song "Lonely Avenue" in Newman's living room, a session Batiste said inspired the veteran songwriter to sing and perform in a way he had not been doing recently.
The release of *Big Money* and its accompanying tour follows the seven-time Grammy winner's work. During his performance at the Hollywood Bowl, Batiste played "Butterfly," a song written for his wife, Suleika Jaouad, who was going into the hospital for her third bone marrow transplant for leukemia. Batiste was previously nominated for 11 Grammys during a single cycle and spent seven years as a fixture on late-night television.
For listeners, Batiste’s work represents a shift toward what he calls "organic expression" in an industry increasingly influenced by digital synthesis. He reported that his studio sessions focused on capturing "lightning in a bottle" through first or second takes. This approach emphasizes live performance over extensive post-production.
The broader impact of Batiste’s "social music" philosophy is seen in his public engagements, such as the subway performances where commuters experience live music. These events, which Batiste calls "a mass revival of the soul," seek to provide an "unexpected feeling of belonging." As his "Big Money Tour" continues, Batiste recently performed at the Palace Theatre in St. Paul. Specific upcoming tour dates and registration deadlines were not reported in the source text.