The Recording Academy has announced its list of 2022 Grammy nominations, and one familiar name shows up 11 times.
Musician Jon Batiste, a Kenner native, has been nominated for Album of the Year for “We Are,” Record of the Year and Best Music Video for “Freedom.” He also has multiple nominations in R&B, Jazz and American Roots categories.
The nominations put Batiste at the front of the pack, garnering even more nominations than big names like Justin Bieber, Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo. Only two artists — Michael Jackson and Babyface — have had more nominations in a single night with 12 each.
The announcement follows changes to the nominee selection process. Now, the academy’s 10,000 members can vote for up to 10 categories in three genres, instead of having an anonymous nomination committee.
Following the news, Batiste tweeted the number 11 followed by ample exclamation points, adding that the number was specifically meaningful because he was born on Nov. 11.
11 !!!!!!!!!!!!
— jon batiste (@JonBatiste) November 23, 2021
Batiste, whose band Stay Human is the house band on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” has had a busy year.
He was responsible for helping compose, arrange and perform the score for “Soul,” an emotional Pixar film about a New York jazz pianist caught in a sort of purgatory that came out late last year. He’s been nominated for “Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media” for that film, along with composers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.
Then, this March he released his eighth-studio album “We Are.” One of the last few tracks on the album was “Freedom,” and the June music video for the song — filmed in New Orleans —was 3 minutes and 42 seconds of pure joy.
And just last week, his episode of “Sesame Street” premiered on HBO Max, where as the musical guest he sang a song about appreciating the “everyday heroes” in your neighborhood, giving a shout-out to postal workers, cashiers and nurses.
Other nominations include Best R&B Album for “We Are,” Best Traditional R&B Performance for “I Need You,” Best Improvised Jazz Solo for “Bigger Than Us,” Best Jazz Instrumental Album for “Jazz Selections: Music From and Inspired by Soul,” Best American Roots Performance and Best American Roots Song for “Cry,” and Best Contemporary Classical Composition for “Batiste: Movement 11.”
The Grammy Awards will be held on Jan. 31, 2022.