Jamal Batiste Band

Like many musicians in New Orleans, Jamal Batiste comes from a musical family. Musicians in the Batiste clan include his father, David, a music teacher and leader of the Gladiators; older brother Russell, an acclaimed drummer; and cousin Jon Batiste, leader of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert band.

Batiste is an all-music embracing drummer, singer, composer, arranger, producer, engineer and mixer. He also played the drummer Get On Up, the Chadwick Boseman-starring bio-pic about James Brown.

Batiste’s versality manifests itself in All Rock’d Up, his latest recording. The seven-song EP features hip-hop, rock, rap, rhythm and blues and prog-rock. Genre mashups by Linkin Park and Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar and Imagine Dragons as well as Run-DMC and Aerosmith inspired the project. “I’m introducing that from a different view, coming from New Orleans,” Batiste said. “Because rock ‘n’ roll went everywhere else, rock was already taking place here in New Orleans.”

Leo Nocentelli, the 2018 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award–winning guitarist and member of the Meters, hipped Batiste to how influential music from New Orleans has been for many decades.

“I’ve been blessed to work with Leo,” Batiste said. “He took me under his wing and informed me about records from New Orleans that have been sampled so many times. And my father’s song, ‘Funky Soul,’ was sampled by P.M. Dawn (“So On and So On”). New Orleans is everywhere. On the pop charts, the hip-hop charts, rock charts, R&B charts.”

Through his All Rock’d Up EP, Batiste wants to reach all generations. “You can still hear the essence of New Orleans,” he said. “Our elders can understand and see where it’s coming from, but it can also appeal to the youth and young adults.”

Batiste formed his first band at 7 or 8 years old. “When I was 3, I remember watching my oldest brother, Russell, set up a drum kit. To me, it was like building beautiful architecture. I was drawn to it. And I watched Russell’s hands playing grooves, moving fast. And then I went over to the drum kit, picked up the sticks and sat on the stool. I couldn’t reach the bass drum foot pedal, but I made it work anyway. I started playing. I just knew it was something I wanted to do.”

Music, in the myriad forms Batiste creates it, is much more a calling than a job. “It’s a blessing from God himself,” he said. “Not only is it a blessing to me, but it’s a gift to Planet Earth. Because music is a powerful tool. It can help heal people. It can hurt people, too. I want to help and heal people. I want to use music right.”

Friday, April 13, 12:30p

Jack Daniel’s Stage - Offbeat Magazine

On this edition of The NOLADrinks Show with Bryan Dias, we have some great interviews lined up! We talk with Erin Short of Tall Ships America and their involvement in the tricentennial of New Orleans. We also chat with Heather Twichell of French Quarter Fest wrapping things up from last weekend’s great event. Lastly, New Orleans drummer extraordinaire, Jamal Batiste, joins us for another installment of #SoulSkillet.

To get more info on this episode, please visit our website here. To see more about The NOLADrinks Show with Bryan Dias, please check us out here. Follow #NOLADrinks on social media - @NOLADrinks on Facebook and Instagram and @NOLADrinks1 on Twitter.

Cheers, You All! - National Food and Beverage Foundation

PRESS RELEASE:
The drummer, songwriter and music producer known as Jamal Batiste has released his latest EP album, “All Rock'd Up.” “All Rock'd Up” contains seven original Jamal Batiste tracks for an approximate total listening time of nearly half an hour. Like the rest of Batiste's repertoire, the extended-play album has been proudly published on the Jam-All Pro. Music Group independent record label. Innovative, high-impact, and packed with lyric gymnastics and urban poetry, “All Rock'd Up” is an EP to put Jamal Batiste on the map once and for all.
Jamal Batiste cites as his main artistic influences Lecrae, Kendrick Lamar, Dee-1, Linkin Park, the Roots, Mint Condition, and Russell Batiste. His own style mixes elements from a great many genres, primarily including soul, funk, and R&B, but also rock, hip-hop, classical, and jazz. While his new EP, “All Rock'd Up” comes out of the gate sounding like a straightforward hardcore rap record, listeners will find much more in store for them as the EP carries forward.
In addition to the considerable talents of Jamal Batiste, himself, “All Rock'd Up” also features the skills of Mik Jag, Ka$h Akbar, Vegas Cola, Sammi Joy, Fya Tha Phenom, Candace Sharper, Alana Creecy, Darryl "Baby D." McCoy Jr., Cognac, Shaggadelic, Mike Bass and many more.
Asked to comment on the overall themes of his EP, Jamal Batiste writes, “Know and believe in yourself and your worth. Fight to stay positive, righteous, motivated, and inspired to work towards your dreams and goals in life. Be God's living example, a light for others to see.”
Jamal Batiste's music has been featured on 50 Cent’s website thisis50.com, as well as CNN’s “Go New Orleans” program. He played James Brown's drummer in the “Get On Up” 2014 biopic and received a proclamation from the New Orleans City Council presented by Councilmember James Gray for his performance, as well as a certificate of recognition that acknowledges him as “The Unorthodox Drummer” from New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu. Batiste also earned a Lifetime Achievement Award for community work from President Barack Obama.
Batiste has been featured on CNN, CBS Nightly News, USA Today, Ebony, WGNO’s “News with a Twist,” the Times-Picayune/NOLA.com, Offbeat, and Gambit and also played snare in Ne-Yo’s video “Never Knew I Needed” from Disney’s “Princess and the Frog.” Jamal Batiste has performed and recorded with: Jon Batiste (The Late Show with Stephen Colbert), Aloe Blacc, Dee-1, Trombone Shorty, Jonathan “Sugarfoot” Moffett (Michael Jackson), Bill Dickens (Janet Jackson), D’Wayne Wiggins (Toni Tony Toné), Bill Summers (Herbie Hancock), Jon Cleary, Christian Scott, and Leo Nocentelli, Art Neville and George Porter of the Meters.

“All Rock'd Up” by Jamal Batiste is available online worldwide from over 600 quality digital music sellers now.

-S. McCauley
Lead Press Release Writer
www.MondoTunes.com

“All Rock'd Up” by Jamal Batiste –
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/all-rockd-up/1325954827
https://www.amazon.com/All-Rockd-Up-Jamal-Batiste/dp/B078952YZD/
https://soundcloud.com/jamallpro/sets/all-rockd-up-ep

Official Website –
http://www.jamallpro.com
http://www.instagram.com/jamallpro
http://www.twitter.com/jamallpro
http://www.facebook.com/jamallpro
http://www.youtube.com/jamallstars - MondoTunes

Tonight, January 5, drummer Jamal Batiste will host the release party for his new EP, All Rock’d Up, at Three Keys. Combining rock, hip hop and fusion, Batiste tells OffBeat.com the project is similar to past collaborations between acts like Imagine Dragons and Kendrick Lamar, or Linkin Park and JAY-Z.

For this EP, the message I want people to get is to know and believe in yourself and your worth. So I chose an aggressive, rocking and grooving approach,” he says.

“The inspiration is what I’ve experienced or seen people’s inner strength that gives us the will power to not give up, keep praying and keep fighting when facing adversity, tragedy and storms. Real winners/champions never quit.”

Hard copys of All Rock’d Up will be available at tonight’s event, which is free and opens at 9 p.m. Supporting Batiste will be opening DJ, Raj Smoove, and hostess Ms. Kaya. Fans will also have the opportunity to purchase the EP at Louisiana Music Factory or on streaming and downloading services on January 10.

As for the new year, Batiste says he has plans to “perform in more festivals, concerts, and events locally, nationally and internationally; work with more amazing artists, musicians, bands, songwriters and producers; and partner with organizations in the arts, educations, sports, fitness, health, culture and community.” - Offbeat Magazine

Drummer, producer, and artist Jamal Batiste creates, performs, and produces music that is rich with relevant cultural and social dynamics that can be enjoyed by all, while having fun and offering people inspiration, motivation, and encouragement in their everyday lives. Jamal has forged his enduring and forward-thinking soul/funk/R&B sound from a lifetime of performance and composition in those genres as well as gospel, second line, rock, hip-hop, classical, Latin, and jazz. His eclectic and innovative aesthetic is evidenced in his most recent release, T.U.D Just Jamal, as well as his CD The Unorthodox Drummer: The First Assemblage, and in a production role for his father’s first solo endeavor: New Orleans is Coming Back, by David Batiste and The Gladiators.

Jamal is the driving force of JAM-ALL, presently in the studio working on their follow-up to 2012’s powerhouse single, “Just Do You.” The song and video have reached fans via 50 Cent’s This is 50 website (http://thisis50.com), and on the community page at MTV.com. JAM-ALL have been featured performers at a number of New Orleans festivals and large-scale events, including the Crime Stoppers Teen Peace Summit at the University of New Orleans Lakefront Arena, the Jazz in the Park Concert Series presented by the People United for Armstrong Park, Bayou Boogaloo, and the 2012 Peace Day Concert. The Stop the Violence campaign by NOSACONN and the New Orleans Arts in Education Initiative will include a new song and video from JAM-ALL in 2013.

Though Jamal is fortunate to have a music legacy that stretches beyond his own lifetime as a member of the legendary Batiste Family, he began his prodigious career when he started playing drums at the tender age of three. His professional debut took place a mere two years later at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, playing with The Batiste Brothers as well as on his own in the Kids Tent. He has performed at the festival ever since. In 2006, Jamal earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Studies from the University of New Orleans. For two years, he held the position of Assistant Band Director at The Batiste Cultural Arts Academy, and has served as the Minister of Music at Hill of Zion Baptist Church in Metairie, LA, for almost three years.

More recently, Jamal has brought his talent and expertise to a host of varied and intriguing projects, including The Batiste Family endeavor Fathers and Sons of the New Millennium, and a sold-out show at the Aulnay All Blues Festival in France (Jamal also was featured as the cover art for the entire fest: http://aulnayallblues.com). Jamal currently is working with rapper/lyricist Dee-1 (CEO of O.M.A.R. Entertainment), drummer Jorel “JFly” Flynn (CEO of the How Big is Your Dream?! Foundation), Grammy Award-winning producer Deezle (Drum Major Music), platinum record producer KLC, New Orleans-based rock band The Honorable South, and of course, his own band JAM-ALL. A new solo album is in the works, as is new material for JAM-ALL.

Jamal has toured on an international scale, playing in Africa, Japan, Canada, and Europe, leading up to multiple recent dates in France, including the Aulnay All Blues Festival. He has shared the stage with luminaries such as Irvin Mayfield, Bill Summers, Leo Nocentelli, Bill Dickens, Cyril Neville, Trombone Shorty, Donald Harrison, Irma Thomas, MyNameIsJohnMichael, Burnell Worrell of P-Funk, among many others. - New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

"So where are we with the next generation of the musical dynasties? Will they surprise us with innovation, or deliver mere updates on their fathers’/aunties’/cousins’ legacies? The Unorthodox Drummer: Just Jamal, the latest from Jamal Batiste of the Batiste family raises hopes. Batiste can handle most instruments, pull from a list of talented friends, and produce a highly stylish record that sounds minty fresh on headphones. Ambient neo-soul, thick bass lines and deadly serious keys (Ronald Markham on synth, Conun Pappas on Rhodes, Bernie Worrell in the air) all beg for the first floor of the Funky Butt and seem to echo Philadelphia. Perhaps this is music for a more cosmopolitan Crescent City. Maybe that’s the better question for the next generation: Can the city foster them? Listen to “Fusionristic,” a spacey track with truly unorthodox drumming." - Offbeat Magazine

"Aulnay All Blues Festival is proud to announce the arrival of one of the outstanding musicians of funk and soul most recognized New Orleans, the legendary David Batiste. founder of the legendary group The Gladiators in 1962, David Batiste and his brothers are considered the founders of the New Orleans funk. Also, the board of this artistic evening "recreate" the living soul funk sound of southern Louisiana with David surrounded this time, his son wonders, world-renowned musicians. Moreover, his youngest percussionist with Damon a deep sense of nuances, is also illustrated as one of the cultural ambassadors who played a major role in the search for links between the African roots of New Orleans and the mother continent. With songs like New Orleans Is Coming Back , Second Line is a Friend of Mine , Jeff and Estelle Blues and Do You David and his son are going to thrill the audience to the heights of rhythmic trance." - Aulnay-sous-bois. France

Local drummer Jamal Batiste is set to make waves on the big screen as the legendary James Brown’s drummer John “Jabo” Starks in the James Brown biopic Get on Up.

The long awaited screen adaptation of the Godfather of Soul’s life story will premier on August 1, and Batiste is ready for his close up.

John Jabo Starks and Jamal Batiste, Get on Up, OffBeat Magazine
John "Jabo" Starks and Jamal Batiste.
As a member of the musical Batiste family, which has far too many members spread throughout the New Orleans music community to count, Jamal Batiste was already keeping himself busy with his Unorthodox Drummer and Honorable South projects when he attended an open casting call at the Old U.S. Mint.

“My father got word about the auditions, and he really just passed the word on to me,” Batiste said. “I was kind of like thinking nothing of it, and I just went there kind of like to just see what would happen.”

Batiste’s interest was piqued when he was called back a few weeks later for a second audition, this time in Natchez, Mississippi, where he was asked to play a James Brown song on the drums.

“Then I got another call to play again, and this time it was to play with the other musicians that were called back as well,” Batiste said. “They wanted us to play as a full unit – horns, bass, guitar, piano – everything. We basically just jammed out.”

After that went well, Batiste started getting excited. Soon after the call back jam session, he was asked to attend a rehearsal, and things started clicking into place.

“It just so happens that the first rehearsal that I went to, the main guy that is playing James Brown, Chadwick Boseman, he was there, so that pretty much made it official,” Batiste said.

He was informed that he would be portraying Jabo Starks during several key musical performances in the movie.

“I was very blessed to actually meet him [Starks] up close in person, pretty much after the whole shoot had taken place,” Batiste said. “His family knows my mother’s family in Mobile, Alabama, very well, so we were already connected without even knowing.”

Batiste spent two months in Natchez and Jackson, during which he said the entire crew worked long hours and practiced almost non-stop.

Not that there weren’t any perks to being in the movie.

“The last scene that we were working on, Mick Jagger was actually in the building,” Batiste said. “Once they said it was a wrap, he came through and shook hands with everybody.”

The production company has kept all pictures that feature the actors in costume locked down so far, including the pictures with Jagger, but Batiste said it’s bound to surface online sooner or later.

Even though his part didn’t include any lines of dialogue, Batiste called playing Jabo Starks a once in a lifetime honor that he wouldn’t trade for anything.

“The songs that everybody knows, like ‘Get on Up,’ ‘Sex Machine,’ and all of that, Jabo was responsible for those beats,” Batiste said. “And then of course when you think about hip hop and these James Brown drum samples that we hear, a lot of that stuff is Jabo being sampled. As a music producer, I want to say I have even sampled one of his songs.” - Stephen Maloney

Tune in to check out the StudioLive RML rack mixers and the new line inputs, Studio One integration with UC Surface, and Studio One’s remote control of the RML’s signal processors and preamps. We’ll also take look at our new ULT loudspeakers, and why they are the coolest wood box on the market today… and an ideal match for the RML mixers. We’ll be joined by musical guest Jamal Batiste—a versatile and internationally-touring drummer, producer, and artist. - Ryan Roullard