Jon Batiste - Hollywood Africans

Acclaimed bandleader, pianist and vocalist Jon Batiste's major label debut Hollywood Africans is out now on Verve Records. Recorded in his hometown of New Orleans, the album is produced by T-Bone Burnett and is described as "an homage to his musical heroes and an intimate portrait of the artist."

As Batiste explains, "The idea was to strip everything down, go back to basics. When you strip something down to rawest form, the essence of it shines through."

The Kenner-born bandleader of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert opted to include on the album's track list the New Orleans standard "Saint James Infirmary," as well as "Smile," "The Very Thought of You" and Louis Armstrong's timeless "What a Wonderful World."

1. Kenner Boogie (written by Jon Batiste)

2. What A Wonderful World (written by George David Weiss, George Douglas)

3. Chopinesque (written by Jon Batiste, Frédéric Chopin)

4. Saint James Infirmary (written by Irving Mills, Joe Primrose)

5. Nocturne No.1 in D Minor (written by Jon Batiste)

6. The Very Thought of You (written by Ray Noble)

7. Green Hill Zone (written by Masato Nakamura)

8. Mr. Buddy (written by Jon Batiste)

9. Is it Over (written by Jon Batiste)

10. Smile (written by John Turner, Geoffrey Parsons, Charlie Chaplin)

11. Don’t Stop (written by Jon Batiste, Steve McEwan)

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