GRAMMY-NOMINATED MUSICIAN
JON BATISTE RELEASES NEW VISUAL SINGLE SMILE
“St. James Infirmary Blues” & “Chopinesque” from Hollywood Africans also featured in the season finale of HBO’s True Detective
NEW YORK, NY (February 25, 2019) – Jon Batiste, GRAMMY nominee, acclaimed musician and bandleader for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, premieres the visual single of “Smile” from his recent album Hollywood Africans. “Smile” incorporates exclusive images from famed photographer Abby Ross, including behind the scenes footage from the Hollywood Africans album cover shoot and never before seen zoetropes used in the album packaging. Originally composed by Charlie Chaplin for the 1936 movie Modern Times and then famously recorded by Nat King Cole in 1954, “Smile” by Jon Batiste gives the classic masterpiece a modern visual touch with a fresh feel and stunning fashion-forward looks in Saint Laurent, Valentino, Burberry and Calvin Klein by Raf Simons styled by John Moore. “Smile” was directed by Marissa Mullen and produced by Steven Gottlieb.
Jon’s creative genius continues to resonate in not just music but with TV and film as well. On last night’s HBO’s True Detective season finale, Batiste’s “Chopinesque” and his Grammy-nominated song “St. James Infirmary Blues” from Hollywood Africans, closed out the episode
