For an artist as relentlessly curious as Jon Batiste, revisiting the music of the animated film “Soul” was never going to be an exercise in nostalgia. At KOKO, the Oscar-winning pianist and composer treated the score not as a museum piece, but as a living body of work, reshaping it with the spontaneity and generosity that have become his trademark.
The evening closed Jon Batiste’s four-night residency at the Camden venue, with each performance exploring a different corner of his musical universe.
Multi-Grammy, Oscar and Emmy winner Jon Batiste delivered a very special sold out four-night residency at London’s 1500 capacity KOKO on 24th, 25th, 26th and 28th June. “Jon Batiste World Festival” across four distinct and exclusive evenings shone the spotlight on a different side of his musical world.
“Batiste Symphonic”. A performance in the round, backed by a full orchestra, Jon’s borderless artistry from his symphonic catalogue such as “American Symphony”. “Batiste By Request”. A fan-driven set shaped entirely by audience request. “Batiste and Voices: Songs Of Hope and Change”. Powerful songs and renowned voices.
“Batiste Plays SOUL (Disney & Pixar)”. For the first time ever, Jon performed with a live band all of his jazz compositions from the Academy award-winning score of the film, and more jazz inspired by the film. This final night, dedicated to Pixar and Disney’s “Soul”, felt particularly personal.
The 2020 film follows Joe Gardner, a jazz pianist searching for meaning beyond career ambition, and Jon Batiste’s contribution to its soundtrack was central to its emotional pull. While Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross composed the film’s atmospheric score, it was Batiste’s jazz performances that gave Joe his musical identity. It remains one of the rare Hollywood films to treat jazz not simply as a soundtrack, but as a philosophy.
That same philosophy shaped this performance. Rather than reproducing the music note for note, Jon Batiste allowed familiar themes to unfold into expansive improvisations. It was jazz in its truest form: conversational, unpredictable and gloriously alive.
Much of the evening’s success, in a packed and very warm KOKO rested on Batiste’s exceptional band, whose blend of technical precision and easy musical rapport gave the performance its sense of freedom. Drummer Jamison Ross was a particular standout, driving the music with infectious energy.
An important foil throughout the evening was Michael Mwenso, the residency’s co-curator and long-time Batiste collaborator. Part master of ceremonies, part vocalist and part cultural historian, Michael helped shape the concert’s communal atmosphere, drawing on the same New Orleans-inspired spirit of participation that defines Batiste’s live performances.
British-based saxophonist Soweto Kinch made a guest appearance, joining the award-winning American musician for this grand finale of the four nights.
KOKO proved an inspired setting. Large enough to generate excitement yet intimate enough to catch every glance between musicians, the venue amplified the sense that this was a performance built on trust rather than precision.
Jon has never been an artist content with being stuck behind a piano. He sang, joked, danced and constantly encouraged interaction, dissolving the boundary between stage and audience. His warmth reflected the communal spirit of the New Orleans musical tradition in which he was raised.
That openness has defined Jon Batiste’s career. After studying at Juilliard, he came to international prominence as bandleader on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, but his career has consistently resisted categorisation. Jazz remains his foundation, yet gospel, classical, R&B and pop all flow naturally through his music.
Multiple Grammy awards and an Academy award (Oscar) have established him as one of the most celebrated musicians of his generation, though accolades seem almost incidental beside his ability to make audiences feel like participants rather than spectators.
It was impossible not to think back to the central message of “Soul”: that fulfilment lies less in chasing extraordinary moments than in recognising the beauty of ordinary ones.
In lesser hands, a concert built around a beloved film score might have settled for faithful recreation. Jon Batiste chose reinvention instead. The result was not simply a performance of music from “Soul”, but a reminder that jazz remains one of the few art forms where the act of creation can still happen in real time. It was uplifting and deeply human throughout.
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Three new Jon Batiste studio albums: “Black Mozart”, “Monk Meditations” and Monk Movements”, will be released on August 14th 2026.
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Mo and William from Toronto, Canada purchased tickets for all four nights at KOKO, flying to the UK exclusively for those concerts, as they have for at least 40 Jon Batiste performances around the world across the years. Here is Mo’s perspective on this quartet of special shows in London:
I am grateful to be able to cross oceans to witness Jon Batiste’s hands parasailing over the piano keys! A thing of beauty. I’m witnessing history in the making for future generations. Something I never take for granted. A healing moment hopefully for many.
One KOKO attendee I met by the name of “Winnie” traveled 14 hours from Hong Kong. She first said with a strong conviction “He is a good person.”
I have seen Jon Batiste usually from the front row when possible, but if time and space allows Jon will go out into the audience with his gifted musicians who are more like close longtime friends, and further out into the street so everyone can experience the moment. I have seen many of Jon’s concerts; maybe 40 times.
No words necessary at the “meet & greet” with Jon, just a good hug and always a thank you for another chance to see him perform. What may seem as just a concert to some is actually “a spiritual practice” for Jon and KOKO was no exception. His first night of this four-night residency in Camden’s KOKO started with a rendition of the song, “Georgia On My Mind”, but instead he lovingly changed it to “Camden” as the crowd cheered and Jon glowed with pure love.
Another night Jon’s mother was in attendance and he played a special set in honour of her birthday. His mom was the one who encouraged him to play piano; his other love is the drums. He often says “music is everything…it’s life!” I have seen his performances in Vancouver, Vienna, Saudia Arabia, Dubai, Japan, and numerous times throughout the USA. And no plans to stop! He is currently on a world tour. We are looking forward to seeing him perform in Monaco next.
Jon comes from a very long rich and soulful legacy of musicians in his immediate family, with whom he continues to perform with when he is regularly back home in New Orleans. His life/musical influences range from his musician dad Michael, to Alvin Batiste, Duke Ellington, Theolonius Monk, Prince, Michael Jackson, Abdullah Ibrahim, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, and Sam Cooke, to name just a few.
It’s clear Jon was born with a gift and as he says, “We all have a gift or a light that we sometimes lose track of, but it’s always there!” And what is equally beautiful is that he silently helps others.
He doesn’t believe in genres. He doesn’t believe one artist or one song is better than another. Jon lives his life in service to humanity and it’s never been about the money, as he says “don’t do it for the money.” He is the co-owner of the yearly Miami Montreux Jazz Festival and he has a beautiful Jazz Club in the Bahamas which supports local upcoming Bahamian musicians.
He is currently releasing not one album, but three: “Black Mozart” and two albums that are Thelonious Monk-inspired. He is working on music for the upcoming Michael B. Jordan remake of “The Thomas Crown Affair.”
I have heard other concert goers refer to Jon as the “medicine man.” He is the man and he brings the medicine. One of Jon Batiste’s favourite messages is, “I love you even if I don’t know you”. Because Jon believes that this is the way we should speak to each other. I’m always a little changed after attending his concerts. He has the desire to elevate everyone throughout the evening.
Sunday, he shared music from the ‘Soul’ movie and also music that wasn’t in the movie. He performed songs in his KOKO shows from his album “Big Money”, which won ‘Best Americana Album’ at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards in February 2026.
Photos and main review by Manja Williams
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