Jon Batiste is a singer, songwriter, and overall, just a musician’s musician. The Louisiana native has worked with some of the biggest in the biz as well from Beyonce to Lana Del Rey, Lil Wayne, A$AP Rocky, and more. However, what the bandleader of Stay Human is also really good at is playing the piano. After all, he did go to school at the world-renowned institution known as Juilliard School. The reason we bring this up is because Jon Batiste is deploying this talent onto a brand-new endeavor, Beethoven Blues. Just like the title suggests, he’s putting a blues and jazz spin on multiple iconic compositions by the German-born icon.
So why did Batiste decide to remake such historic pieces of art? To put it simply, they were “due for an update.” He explains further with The Hollywood Reporter, “Jazz music has a lot of spontaneous composition, and early classical music also had a lot of spontaneous composition, yet its contemporary reality is so far away from that that you would imagine that jazz and classical music could never come together. And I find it to be a great thing that you can update it if you have the language and the ability and the craft to put them together. So, that’s why I thought, why not do it?” In our opinion, he would have made Beethoven pretty proud, and this looks to be just the first full piano/instrumental album for now. Hopefully, we get to hear him transform other historical pieces. But check out Beethoven Blues with the links below and listen to a master at work.
Today marks the much-anticipated grand opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Walt Disney World, with Disneyland Resort set to debut the attraction later this year. In conjunction with this magical event, Walt Disney Records has released the official soundtrack for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, now available across all streaming platforms.
Anika Noni Rose
Grammy-Award winners PJ Morton and Terence Blanchard recorded this special soundtrack in New Orleans with some of the city’s most prolific talent, including Jon Batiste, Trombone Shorty, Jon Cleary, and more. This vibrant collection of music perfectly captures the spirit of New Orleans and adds a rich, auditory layer to the enchanting experience of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
PJ Morton
In a behind-the-scenes video, Leah Chase Kamata, daughter of Leah Chase, one of the inspirations for Tiana, is shown recording her rendition of “Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?”. This soundtrack features an all-new, original song crafted specifically for the attraction, along with fresh renditions of beloved classics from the Walt Disney Animation Studios’ film, The Princess and the Frog.
During a special preview of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, legendary musician Terence Blanchard shared his thoughts on the project. “Oh man, look, I have three girls. So Tiana’s been on my mind a great deal. And I’ve been in the film business for a number of years. To see my youngest daughter being really excited about a film I worked on when she was a little girl meant a lot to me. I remember the folks at Disney sent me some materials along with a CD, and she played that CD every day all day. So to think, to go from that to an actual physical ride that people can come and visit again and again, I think is amazing.”
He added, “It says a lot about Disney, it says a lot about where we are in the world, and it says a lot about what we’ve achieved, what people have been fighting for in terms of being equal in this country. And I think and I hope and pray that this is just the beginning of having more attractions to deal with more ethnic groups, gender equality, and all of those types of things, so we can really start to heal this country from the divisionary tactics that are being placed upon us right now.”
Tank Ball
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure soundtrack on May 25, 2023.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure soundtrack on May 25, 2023.
Experience the magic of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and immerse yourself in the rich, musical heritage of New Orleans through this captivating soundtrack. Celebrate Black culture, history, and the spirit of resilience embodied by Princess Tiana as you embark on this unforgettable adventure.
Listen to the Tiana’s Bayou Adventure soundtrack now on all major streaming platforms and join in the celebration of this landmark opening at Walt Disney World. For a sneak peek behind the scenes, check out the video featuring Leah Chase Kamata recording her heartfelt rendition of a New Orleans classic below.
Thank you to all of the amazing musicians who contributed to this masterpiece, we salute you!
Music Production Team – Attraction
Brandon Caddell – Arranger, Music Supervisor
PJ Morton – Producer, Composer, Arranger
Haim Mazar – Arranger
Richard Morse – Arranger (Scene 6 Rara)
Reggie Nicholas, Jr. – Recording Engineer, Mixer
Greg Morgan – Recording Engineer, Mixer
John Michael Rouchell – Music Production Supervisor
Susan Ham – Music Editor
Booker White – Copyist
Musicians & Vocalists
Anika Noni Rose
Michael-Leon Wooley
Dr. John
Jim Cummings
Tarriona “Tank” Ball
Jarell Michael Bankston
Ashtin Fortner
Armando Leduc
Tiondria Norris
Ashley Pierre Williams
PJ Morton
Jon Batiste
Jon Cleary
Trombone Shorty
Kyle Anderson
Sean Ardoin
Weedie Braimah
Max Bronstein
Leon Brown
Hunter Burgamy
Robin Clabby
Edward Clark
Brian Cockerham
Mike Esneault
Alvin Ford
Jonathan Frishberg
Victor Goines
Julian Gosin
Benjamin Hart
Trevarri Huff-Boone
Jason Jurzak
Blair Taylor Lavigne
Christos Melios
Ashlin Parker
Manuel Perkins
David Pulphus
Marcella Ratcliff
Jason Ricci
Paul Robertson
Kyle Roussel
Benjamin Thacher
Erion Williams
Hannah Yim
RAM Band
Richard Morse
Pierre Daniel Jules
Darianna Videaux Capitel
Emmanuel Jules
Joseph D. Cabral
Max Blanc
Peter Barr
Walter F. Harris Jr.
Dezor Willy
Gospel Soul Children
Craig Adams
Veronica Downs-Dorsey
Tiffany French
Shantell Hall
Sean Johnson
Toryan Johnson
Latashah Long
Harrison Nedd III
Keenan Rogers
Milezone Williams
New Orleans Jazz Orchestra
Miles Berry
John Michael Bradford
Bryce Eastwood
Ricio Fruge
Maxwell Paulus
Shea Pierre
TJ Norris
Adonis Rose
Adrian Ross
Amina Scott
Terrance Taplin
Don Vappie
Gerald Watkins Jr.
Lex Warshawski
Music Production Team – Queue
Terence Blanchard – Arranger, Music Producer
Terrance Simien – Arranger (“Gonna Take You There”)
Herlin Riley – Lyricist
Greg Hayes – Recording Engineer, Mixer
Harry Risoleo – Recording Engineer, Music Editor
John Michael Rouchell – Music Production Supervisor
The 2024 Big Ears Festival will be held from Thursday, March 21, to Sunday, March 24, in Knoxville, Tennessee. The festival features a whopping 13 venues, including Knoxville Civic Auditorium, Tennessee Theatre, Bijou Theatre, Mill & Mine, and The Standard.
Check out the must-know set times below, and see the full four-day schedule here.
Here Are Big Ears Festival Set Times For 2024
Thursday, March 21: The slate will really begin at 6 p.m. local time with Tord Gustavsen Trio at Bijou Theater and include various performances across all stages, including Adrianne Lenker (9:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.) at Knoxville Civic Auditorium. It will conclude with Robert Aiki and Aubrey Lowe from 11:45 p.m. to 12:45 a.m. at The Standard. André 3000’s first New Blue Sun Live performance will take place from 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at St. John’s Cathedral.
Friday, March 22: Sisters With Transistors will kick the day off at 9 a.m. at Regal Riviera Cinema 2. Steve Keene Live Art Performance will happen throughout the day, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., at Red Gallery. Joanna Sternberg will perform from 1:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. at Old City PAC. John Paul Jones can be found from 2 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. at Tennessee Theatre. Laurie Anderson & Sexmob: Let X=X is set for 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Knoxville Civic Auditorium, and Rhiannon Giddens will play from 10 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. at Tennessee Theatre. André 3000’s second New Blue Sun Live performance will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Bijou Theatre.
Saturday, March 23:Steve Keene Live Art Performance will again stretch from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Red Gallery. Herbie Hancock is slated from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Knoxville Civic Auditorium. André 3000’s third New Blue Sun Live performance will take place from 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at The Point.
Sunday, March 24: Yes, Steve Keene Live Art Performance will again be available to see from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Red Gallery. American Symphony will perform from 10 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. at Regal Riviera Cinema 2. Silkroad Ensemble with Rhiannon Giddens will set up from 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. at Mill & Mine. Jon Batiste’s set will last from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Knoxville Civic Auditorium. André 3000 will stage two separateNew Blue Sun Live concerts at The Point on the final day: 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
For a little while, there was some uncertainty about whether Ryan Gosling would perform his Barbie movie favorite “I’m Just Ken” at the 2024 Oscars. A few days ago, though, Varietyconfirmed that he will take the Academy Awards stage to bust out the song, and now the Academy itself has revealed the full list of musical performers set to play their songs at this year’s ceremony, on March 10 at 7 p.m. ET.
Who Is Performing At The 2024 Oscars?
There are five songs nominated for the Best Original Song award this year, and as Variety notes, all of them will be performed during this year’s ceremony. The list of songs and their performers is as follows:
“The Fire Inside” from Flamin’ Hot (performed by Becky G, music and lyrics by Diane Warren)
“I’m Just Ken” from Barbie (performed by Ryan Gosling and Mark Ronson, music and lyrics by Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt)
“It Never Went Away” from American Symphony (performed by Jon Batiste, music and lyrics by Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson)
“Wahzhazhe (A Song For My People)” from Killers Of The Flower Moon (performed by Scott George and the Osage Singers, music and lyrics by Scott George)
“What Was I Made For?” from Barbie (performed by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell, music and lyrics by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell).
Jon Batiste. “It Never Went Away” from ‘American Symphony.’ LIVE at the Oscars.
1st Weekend 4-Day (April 25, 26, 27, 28): Early Bird Ticket ($290) or Advance Ticket ($320)
2nd Weekend 4-Day (May 2, 3, 4, 5): Early Bird Ticket ($465) or Advance Ticket ($495)
2nd Weekend 3-Day (May 3, 4, 5): Early Bird Ticket ($240) or Advance Ticket ($270)
GA+ 4-Day 1st Weekend: Early Bird Ticket ($499) or Advance Ticket ($549)
GA+ 4-Day 2nd Weekend: Early Bird Ticket ($749) or Advance Ticket ($799)
Additionally, there are two VIP packages: Big Chief and Grand Marshal. The base price for the Big Chief VIP 1st weekend is $1,850, while Big Chief VIP 2nd Weekend starts at $2,550. There is a 2nd Weekend 3-Day option with a base price of $1,700, but VIP parking and VIP shuttles are no longer available.
Similarly, Grand Marshal VIP is separated into 1st Weekend ($1,750 base price) and 2nd Weekend ($2,350 base price).
All of those ticket packages are currently on sale, and single-day tickets are expected to become available in February.
See the lineup poster below.
New Orleans JazzFest 2024 lineup poster
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Dua Lipa, Jon Batiste, Andra Day, and more are among the musical presenters who will be appearing at the 2024 Golden Globe Awards. The event will be held and air this Sunday, June 7 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+.
Other musicians on the lineup include Jared Leto and Hailee Steinfeld. Lipa is one of the nominees for Best Original Song, for her work on “Dance The Night” from the Barbie movie soundtrack. (Ryan Gosling’s “I’m Just Ken” and Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” are also included.)
Rounding out the category are Bruce Springsteen’s “Addicted To Romance” from She Came To Me, Jack Black’s “Peaches” from The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and Lenny Kravitz’s “Road To Freedom” from Rustin.
Batiste will be presenting tied to his recent documentary, American Symphony, and Hailee Steinfeld appeared in 2023’s Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse. Finally, although she isn’t a presenter, Taylor Swift is also up for a nomination with her Eras Tour movie included in the Cinematic And Box Office Achievement category.
Some other presenters will include Amanda Seyfried, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Florence Pugh, Will Ferrell, and more.
For more information about the 2024 Golden Globes, visit here.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
In September, Big Ears Festival announced its massive lineup for 2024, headlined by Herbie Hancock, Rhiannon Giddens, Big Thief’s Adrianne Lenker, Laurie Anderson, and Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones. Even more artists have been unveiled since then, and now, Big Ears has confirmed which lineup can be expected on each day between Thursday, March 21, and Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Knoxville, Tennessee.
The March 21 lineup is headlined by Lenker and Charles Lloyd, while Laurie Anderson & Sexmob, Giddens, and Jones will head up the following day. March 23’s lineup is led by Hancock, Kronos Quartet, and Digable Planets, while Jon Batiste and Silk Road Ensemble (with Giddens) will lead the charge on the final day. Each day will feature acts curated by Professor King Britt as part of a new partnership between Big Ears and Britt’s “Blacktronika: Afrofuturism In Electronic Music” course at the University Of California.
Festival passes are on sale now here. As of this writing, most have sold out, including the 4-Day Sonic Explorer and 4-Day Premier options. 4-Day Weekend passes are still available in Tier 1 ($400 plus fees) and Tier 2 ($450 plus fees). Single-day passes — regular and premier — for Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday are also still available.
Jon Batiste treated fans to a new ballad, “It Never Went Away,” which he wrote about his relationship with author and artist, Suleika Jaoaud. The couple is the center of the forthcoming Netflix documentary, American Symphony, and Batiste’s song will be on the soundtrack.
Directed by Matthew Heineman, it finds the couple having a tough year. Batiste is attempting to compose his first symphony, which ties into the film’s title. Meanwhile, Jaoaud is battling lung cancer.
The themes of struggle play into “It Never Went Away,” as he acknowledges that they will still love each other — even if the times might be tough right now. He co-wrote the track with Semisonic’s Dan Wilson.
“‘It Never Went Away’ details a love that outlasts any condition of the physical world,” Batiste added in a statement. “It probes the question of our mortality, while at the same time speaking to the enduring quality of our deepest callings and desires. That part of us that stands in protest to the ills of the physical world is, in fact, evidence of our perpetual nature.”
American Symphony will be available to stream on Netflix starting on November 29. Batiste previously released his Grammy-nominated World Music Radio album back in August.
Listen to Jon Batiste’s “It Never Went Away” above.
As part of the Uneasy Tour: Purifying The Airwaves For The People, Batiste’s latest album, World Music Radio, and his remaining discography will be performed live. The 23-date North American run will kick off on February 16 in Portland, Oregon. So far, Batiste has not announced any opening acts. Still, as a classically trained instrumentalist, his supporting band is sure to be more than adequate to fulfill the needs of ticketholders.
View the full schedule for Jon Batiste’s Uneasy Tour: Purifying The Airwaves For The People below. Presale for the tour begins on November 14 at 10 a.m. local time. General on-sale starts will follow on November 17 at 10 a.m. local time. Find more information here.
02/16/2024 — Portland, OR @ Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
02/17/2024 — Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theatre
02/18/2024 — San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore (early and late shows)
02/20/2024 — Denver, CO @ Paramount Theatre
02/22/2024 — Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
02/23/2024 — Madison, WI @ The Sylvee
02/24/2024 — Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theatre
02/26/2024 — Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore
02/27/2024 — Indianapolis, IN @ Murat Theatre
02/28/2024 — Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium
03/03/2024 — Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle
03/12/2024 — Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall
03/13/2024 — Montreal, QC @ MTELUS
03/15/2024 — New Haven, CT @ College Street Music Hall
03/16/2024 — Boston, MA @ Orpheum Theatre
03/17/2024 — Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore
03/19/2024 — New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre
03/21/2024 — Washington, DC @ Warner Theatre
03/22/2024 — Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore
03/24/2024 — Knoxville, TN @ Big Ears Festival
03/26/2024 — Dallas, TX @ Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House
03/27/2024 — Austin, TX @ ACL Live – Moody Theater
04/27/2024 — Miramar Beach, FL @ Kaleidoscope Beach
The 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is just around the corner, now that today is the first day of November. With the event being held each year in New York, viewers and attendees who are looking forward might be wondering who will be performing this year — when it will be hosted on November 23.
Here’s a look at the current lineup — and some of the key highlights.
Jon Batiste is set to open the show. Earlier this year, the Grammy winner released his new album, World Music Radio.
Cher is also one of the performers at the parade this year. She recently announced that she’s made her first Christmas album, and she’s expected to play a selection from that.
Throughout the parade’s runtime, other acts on the lineup include “Bell Biv DeVoe, Brandy, Chicago, En Vogue, ENHYPEN, David Foster and Katharine McPhee, Drew Holcomb And The Neighbors, Jessie James Decker, Ashley Park with the cast and Muppets of Sesame Street, Pentatonix, Paul Russell, Amanda Shaw and Alex Smith and Manuel Turizo,” according to Today.com.
There will also be 16 balloons themed to characters, including new ones like “Beagle Scout Snoopy” and Monkey D. Luffy from One Piece, 26 floats, 12 marching bands, Santa Claus, and thousands of volunteers working to make the Thanksgiving festivity run smoothly.
