Jon Batiste will join the summer lineup at SPAC with his debut performance alongside the Philadelphia Orchestra on Friday, August 22.
His appearance coincides with the highly anticipated release of his new album BIG MONEY, marking the first time that audiences will be able to experience his new music live ahead of his national tour.
The announcement follows the news that Cynthia Erivo has unfortunately had to cancel her previously scheduled engagement due to scheduling conflicts beyond the artist’s control.
“Jon Batiste is one of the most brilliant and accomplished musicians of our time — a once-in-a-generation artist who will bring his creativity, magnetism and social activism to Saratoga. His return to SPAC carries a special kind of magic — a homecoming for an artist whose roots run deep in our city. From his formative days at the Skidmore Jazz Institute to his electrifying performances at our Saratoga Jazz Festival, our community has had the rare privilege of witnessing his extraordinary rise from emerging talent to global icon,” said Elizabeth Sobol, Chief Executive Officer of Saratoga Performing Arts Center.
“While we are disappointed that Cynthia Erivo will not be joining us this summer, we are elated to welcome Jon in celebration of his highly anticipated new album. It’s a truly special moment: our audiences will be the very first to witness his debut with The Philadelphia Orchestra and to experience his latest work just before he launches a major national tour.”
Batiste’s performance on August 22 will include two sets – one with his band, featuring works from BIG MONEY, slated for release on the same day, and a second set marking his debut with The Philadelphia Orchestra. This appearance will be his first time back at SPAC, following his Saratoga Jazz Festival performance in 2018.
On BIG MONEY, Batiste melds classic and modern styles of R&B, Americana, soul, roots, jazz, gospel and more to create sounds of jubilee and diasporic expression. It is the soundtrack of a movement, featuring collaborators from Randy Newman to frequent Jay-Z collaborator No ID.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, he said: “We have such a profoundly rich cultural inheritance in America that many of us don’t know of, don’t fully embrace, don’t fully understand. And artists just have to keep making statements that point back to that and counter things that are trying to dilute that or erase it.”
Limited tickets are available for A Special Evening with Jon Batiste and The Philadelphia Orchestra and are now available for purchase at spac.org, at the box office or by calling 518-584-9330.
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