Richardine Bartee
After signing a new deal with Verve Records, Louisiana musician Jon Batiste shares the official audio from ‘Don’t Stop’, a new song geared towards love, how it should be and uncertainties when you’re in love. The clarity of his voice effortlessly tells the heartbreaking story of morality, and things coming to end. ‘Don’t Stop’ is the first single from the singer-songwriter’s forthcoming major label debut called ‘Hollywood Africans’. It’s set to release on September 28, but we invite you to hear the poetic record now.
Danny Bennett, who is the President and CEO of Verve Label Group, said the following about the pianist, bandleader and vocalist:
It is a great privilege to be working with Jon Batiste. His determination and dedication to stay true to his musical roots while pushing the envelope to create music that is uniquely his own places him well within the pantheon of Verve’s most treasured artists. Jon’s genius lies in his uncanny ability to connect to his audience in a way that arrests the imagination and inspires on a spiritual level. This is clearly evident when one listens to his interpretation of “What A Wonderful World”. He transforms the song into a meditation that touches the soul. The Verve Label Group is proud to call him family.”
Fall Tour Dates:
7/28 – Pier 17 – New York, NY
7/29 – Newport Folk Festival – Newport, RI
8/3 – The Knickerbocker – Westerly, RI
8/4 – Newport Jazz Festival – Newport, RI
9/21 – Musci Center – Orange, CA
9/22 – Monterey Jazz Festival – Monterey, CA
9/23 – Greek Theatre – Berkeley, CA
10/19 – Schermerhorn Symphony Center – Nashville, TN
10/20 – The Sheldon Concert Hall and Art Galleries – St. Louis, MO
10/26 – Kessler Theatre – Dallas, TX
10/27 – The Heights Theatre – Houston, TX
Tracklist for Hollywood Africans:
Kenner Boogie (written by Jon Batiste)
What A Wonderful World (written by George David Weiss, George Douglas)
Chopinesque (written by Jon Batiste, Frédéric Chopin)
Saint James Infirmary (written by Irving Mills, Joe Primrose)
Nocturne No.1 in D Minor (written by Jon Batiste)
The Very Thought of You (written by Ray Noble)
Green Hill Zone (written by Masato Nakamura)
Mr Buddy (written by Jon Batiste)
Is it Over (written by Jon Batiste)
Smile (written by John Turner, Geoffrey Parsons, Charlie Chaplin)
Don’t Stop (written by Jon Batiste, Steve McEwan)
