Pianist, singer, songwriter and “Late Show With Stephen Colbert” bandleader Jon Batiste won album of the year at the 2022 Grammys on Sunday night for “We Are,” his politically focused jazz album, upsetting nine other long players by artists including Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift and the duo of Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga.
With the victory, the 35-year-old New Orleans native notched his fifth win out of his 11 nominations this year, eight of which were for work from “We Are.” Batiste also won for score soundtrack for visual media (for Pixar’s “Soul”), American roots performance, American roots song and music video.
Released through Universal Music Group’s Verve imprint, “We Are” is the first jazz-focused album to win album of the year since 2008, when Herbie Hancock’s “River: The Joni Letters” upset albums by Foo Fighters, Amy Winehouse, Kanye West and Vince Gill.
