Late Show

Stephen Colbert chooses Jon Batiste as Late Show band leader

As the first promo video gets out of the way, Stephen Colbert has checked off a second item off of his checklist. The host of CBS’s Late Show has chosen Jonathan Batiste as the new bandleader.

As a native to Louisiana and a graduate of Julliard, Batiste is a big name in the world of jazz and blues music. He is a prolific solo artist on his own terms but he has also worked with artists such as Prince, Wynton Marsalis, Allen Toussaint, and Dr. John over the years. He has an immensely charismatic personality, which can be seen on-stage with his rowdy live performances and off-stage in his acting such as his roles on HBO’s Treme and Spike Lee’s Red Hook Summer.

Colbert has also shared a new promo video introducing Batiste which can be seen here.

Colbert said in a statement: “His music makes the audience feel so good, we may have to install a ‘Do Not Make Love’ sign.”

Late Show with Stephen Colbert will premiere on September 8th.

Stephen Colbert sent-off with “We’ll Meet Again”

Last night was the final episode of The Colbert Report and virtually every celebrity you could think of was there to say goodbye to Stephen Colbert with a singalong of Vera Lynn’s “We’ll Meet Again.”

Michael Stipe from R.E.M.’s (who for 25 cents at a yard sale yesterday), Jeff Tweedy from Wilco, Randy Newman, Willie Nelson, and Cyndi Lauper all were in the singalong. Among the other celebrities are Jon Stewart, Bryan Cranston, President Barack Obama, President Bill Clinton, James Franco, Katie Couric, Jeff Daniels, Patrick Stewart, and Alek Trebek.

Actual Stephen Colbert will take the role of David Letterman as the host of Late Show in CBS.