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Jon Batiste leads all musicians with 11 Grammy nominations; see other Louisianans nominated

Musician Jon Batiste playing piano for a "Juneteenth celebration + voter registration recital" called "We Are" on June 19, 2020. On the steps of the Brooklyn Public Library in Grand Army Plaza.
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Musician Jon Batiste playing piano for a "Juneteenth celebration + voter registration recital" called "We Are" on June 19, 2020. On the steps of the Brooklyn Public Library in Grand Army Plaza.

Musician Jon Batiste, from the New Orleans area, leads all musicians with 11 Grammy nominations for his work in 2021, including one for the coveted Record of the Year for his song, "Freedom."

The Recording Academy made the announcement Tuesday when they released a list of nominees for 86 musical categories. Batiste, best known for his work on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," is also up for Album of the Year with "WE ARE."

The 11 nominations for Batiste vary in genre from classical to R&B and his work in films. Batiste, who attended St. Augustine High School and New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, comes from a long line of New Orleans musicians, including Lionel Batiste of the Treme Brass Band and four brothers that are also musicians.

If Batiste wins the Album of the Year Grammy, several other New Orleans musicians will receive a trophy. The St. Augustine High School Marching 100, the Hot 8 Brass Band, Trombone Shorty and PJ Morton contributed to the recording.

Batiste will face two other New Orleans musicians in the Best Improvised Jazz Solo category with Terrance Blanchard for "Absence" and Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah for his work on "The Hands of Time."

The Best Regional Roots Music Album category will see a heavy dose of Louisiana with recordings from Sean Ardoin And Kreole Rock and Soul, Cha Wa, and the Corey Ledet Zydeco facing off against Big Chief Monk Boudreaux's album "Bloodstains & Teardrops."

The soundtrack for Soul, an animated Disney film about a New York pianist, had already netted Batiste some hardware in 2020. He recorded the film's score with Trent Reznor and Atticus Rose and received an Academy Award, a Golden Globe and a BAFTA Film Award.

The trio could now win a Grammy for the Best Soundtrack For Visual Media.

Batiste also released an album with Disney titled "Jazz Selections: Music From And Inspired By Soul," which is up for Best Jazz Album.

After a live stream from the Grammy Organization finished, Batiste, 35, took to Twitter to contemplate the immense number of nominations.

Batiste will also compete for best American Roots Song with "Cry," and for Video of the Year with "Freedom," which was filmed on Frenchman Street.

The award ceremony takes place Jan. 31, 2022. Click here for more details.

A list of all Batise's nominations:

  • Record of The Year: Freedom
  • Best R&B Album: WE ARE
  • Best Traditional R&B Performance: I Need You
  • Best Improvised Jazz Solo: Bigger Than Us - Soundtrack Soul
  • Best Jazz Instrumental Album: Jazz Selections: Music From And Inspired By Soul
  • American Roots Music: Cry
  • Best American Roots Song: Cry
  • Best Soundtrack For Visual Media: "Soul" with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
  • Producer of The Year: Rickey Reed, who produced Batiste's "Sing"
  • Best Contemporary Classical Composition: Batiste: Movement 11'
  • Best Music Video: Freedom

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