Where is jon batiste late show

Grammy-winning musician Jon Batiste has left his role as bandleader for Late Night with Stephen Colbert. The late night host made the announcement on Thursday night’s show. Stepping into his very big shoes will be Louis Cato, who has been filling in for Batiste over the summer. Stephen Colbert said the rest of Batiste's Stay Human group will remain intact, then introduced his studio audience to what will now be called Louis Cato and the Late Show Band.

Earlier this year, Batiste’s album We Are took home the Album of the Year Grammy, one of its 11 nominations. He’s won five overall, and also has an Oscar, which he shares with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross for Best Original Score for the movie Soul. 

Colbert broke the news of Batiste’s departure gently, explaining that he was leaving “for all the best reasons, including to continue sharing his art with the world.” Alas, the announcement did not include an in-person sendoff (Joe Walsh, the Eagles guitarist that has been sitting in with the group, was ready to pop out of a cake, apparently), but Colbert said he’s been “so lucky to have a front row seat to Jon’s incredible talent for seven years.”

Batiste has been Colbert’s bandleader since the show began in 2015. The 35-year-old is part of the legendary New Orleans Batiste family of musicians, which includes composer Harold Batiste, clarinetist Alvin Batiste, Lionel Batiste of the Treme Brass Band, and Jon’s cousin, Russell Batiste, a member of the Funky Meters. Early in the Colbert-Batiste partnership, the pair went to New Orleans, where Jon introduced Stephen to his roots. 

As for the new guy, it’s a promote-from-within situation, as Louis Cato is already a member of Batiste’s Stay Human group. He is a bassist, guitarist, drummer, trombonist, tuba player, singer, songwriter, and producer who, as Colbert put it, can play Mozart on a shoehorn. He was born in Portugal, raised in North Carolina, and has recorded with a slew of jazz, R&B, pop, and cross-genre greats. 

Over the years, Batiste has engaged in many great Late Show pre-recorded bits, like a humorous spin on Jazz 101, performed surprising covers of video game music, hit the streets of Manhattan for various “love riots,” and brought nonagenarian jazz drummer Roy Haynes up to his office for a jam session.

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The bandleader and recent Grammy winner will be replaced by Louis Cato.

The recent Grammy winner is departing to pursue personal and professional interests. Colbert announced Batiste's departure on Thursday's edition of the show.

Late Show with Stephen Colbert Jon Batiste

Stephen Colbert and Jon Batiste on 'The Late Show'

| Credit: Scott Kowalchyk/CBS

"I've got news about our dear friend Jon Batiste," said Colbert. "Now, sharp-eyed viewers may have noticed that Jon hasn't been here this summer. Well, I have an update. Jon has decided to leave the show. But it's for all the best reasons, including to continue sharing his art with the world."

The host continued, "We wanted to give him a big in-person send-off. Joe Walsh was going to pop out of a cake, but Jon's not in town. I hope he's cutting his new album, and I hope it's called More Grammys, Please. We have been so lucky to have a front-row seat to Jon's incredible talent for the past seven years, and will we miss him here? Yeah! Yeah! But we're happy for you, Jon, and I can't wait to have you back on as a guest with your next hit record. I love you."

Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Stephen Colbert and Jon Batiste on 'The Late Show'

| Credit: Scott Kowalchyk/CBS

Colbert went on to say Cato is taking over.

"But as happy as I am for Jon, I am thrilled for us, because I have the privilege to announce that this incredible band is staying right there and that our new bandleader is the one, the only Mr. Louis Cato, ladies and gentlemen," he said. "If you've been watching, and I hope you have, you know that Louis has done a great job this summer and he's very humble, so he won't say this, but I will: He is a musical genius. He could basically play every instrument on that stand over there. Give him an afternoon — he'll learn how to play Mozart on a shoehorn."

Late Show with Stephen Colbert Louis Cato

Louis Cato on 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert'

| Credit: Scott Kowalchyk/CBS

In addition to his duties on The Late Show, Batiste co-composed the score for the film Soul, for which he won an Academy Award.

He also won five Grammys earlier this year, snagging the awards for Album of the Year for his eighth studio album, 2021's We Are; Best Music Video for his song "Freedom"; Best American Roots Performance and Best American Roots Song for "Cry"; and Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media for Soul, which he wrote with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.

Cato released his first solo album, Starting Now, in 2016.

Watch Colbert announce Batiste's departure from the show below.

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