Now that CBS has its new David Letterman, they needed a new Paul Schaeffer. Stephen Colbert has picked New Orleans musician Jon Batiste as his bandleader for The Late Show.
“His music makes the audience feel so good, we may have to install a ‘Do Not Make Love’ sign,” Colbert said in a statement released by CBS. He also taped an introduction in New Orleans.
“I’m thrilled! This is a match made in heaven. Get ready for a love riot in late night,” Batiste added.
Batiste is the frontman for Stay Human, which has worked with Prince, Lenny Kravitz and Wynton Marsalis. He studied at the Juilliard School, where he earned undergraduate and master’s degrees.
His most recent album, Social Music, hit No. 1 on the Billboard Jazz Album Chart. He also appeared on HBO’s Treme and in Spike Lee’s Red Hook summer. He was also named the artistic director at large for Harlem’s National Jazz Museum.
Even though The Late Show With Stephen Colbert doesn’t premiere until Sept. 8, CBS and Colbert have been building up excitement for the show this week. In addition to a video showing Colbert shaving off his “Colbeard,” CBS has launched a Twitter page and a podcast.