Jon Batiste's 'Freedom' video and Grammy triumph

Jon Batiste, the 1986-born jazz pianist from Metairie, Louisiana, earned a record 11 Grammy nominations for his second album 'We Are', winning five awards—more than any other artist in that edition. His nominations spanned R&B, American Roots, and jazz categories. The track 'Freedom' received a nomination for Best Music Video; Batiste shot it over just two days (April 2–3) on the streets of Faubourg Marigny in New Orleans' 7th Ward, featuring multiple locations, costume changes, and a cast of dancers, musicians, and extras. The video opens with children drumming on plastic buckets decorated with saint icons, then shows Batiste stepping from a burnt-orange Cadillac El Dorado in a tailored pink suit. Later scenes include four gold-spray-painted performers who suddenly come to life, a green suit matching a mural, and a 1970s double-breasted suit with purple stripes. Mardi Gras Indians appear in a somber interlude. Batiste's song 'We Are' honors his grandfather, a Black activist. During the pandemic, Batiste performed outdoors and organized protest concerts after George Floyd's murder. At the Grammys, he cited Louis Armstrong as his greatest role model, praising his affability, humility, and commitment to fundamental values.