On Tuesday night, musician Jon Batiste surprised fans with an impromptu performance at the Maple Leaf Bar in New Orleans. The show, which took place just days before his scheduled appearance at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, featured Batiste on keyboard, guitar, and melodica. His father joined him on stage on bass and his brother on vocals and keys.

Batiste started the show with some New Orleans uptown funk, quickly getting the audience dancing and grooving along. He also showcased his vocal abilities, singing a rendition of “I Feel Good Today” and performing a medley of “St. James Infirmary” and “Sunnyside of the Street” with the help of his female vocalist.

Throughout the show, Batiste demonstrated his versatility as a musician, switching between instruments and keeping the energy high without taking breaks. 

Jon Batiste is a multi-talented musician, composer, and bandleader whose career spans almost two decades. Born in Kenner, Louisiana in 1986, he was exposed to music early through his family, who are all musicians. Batiste is probably best known to the public at large as the musical director and band leader for his band Stay Human on Stephen Colbert’s late night television show from 2015 through 2022. He has played and performed all over the world and is beloved in his hometown of metro New Orleans. Batiste has performed at Jazz Fest many times over the years.

Batiste attended the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA) High School and later earned a degree in music from the Juilliard School in New York City. 

The pop-up performance at the Maple Leaf Bar was a testament to his deep roots in the New Orleans music scene.