by photojournalist Jeffrey Moellering
When Jon Batiste took the stage at Ruth Eckerd Hall on Tuesday night during his “Big Money” tour he ignited a full-on celebration of life, music, and connection. Backed by a powerhouse 10-piece band and an effervescent sense of joy, Batiste delivered a performance that blurred the lines between genres, traditions, and generations, transforming the Clearwater venue into a radiant house of sound and spirit, more akin to a Baptist revival than a mere concert hall.
An acoustic duo featuring Diana Silvers opened the evening. Ms. Silvers is known for her acting role in the Netflix “Space Force” series and has released her first album. She played some original confessional songs, humored the crowd with overcoming her own self-consciousness, and offered an inspired cover of Neil Young’s “Harvest Moon”.
In awaiting the main act, the theater was dark and quiet in anticipation, and then some rumblings were heard high up in the wings. Jon Baptiste entered unannounced and proceeded to saunter down the stairway with band members trailing behind. There were no lights on him, so it took a while for the entire auditorium to realize what was happening, but as they did, anticipation rose, as did the fans from their seats.
From the very first notes of “Freedom,” the energy was electric. Dressed in denim bib overalls festooned with sparkling pins, and that ever gleaming grin, Batiste commanded the stage like a man on a mission to remind the audience what music can feel like, and how it has the power to transform. The crowd was instantly with him — clapping, dancing, and singing along as his fusion of New Orleans funk, gospel, soul, and jazz filled every corner of the hall. He quickly implored the crowd to get on their feet and shake their hips, like they do in the Crescent City!
Batiste’s performance was as unpredictable as it was exhilarating. One moment he was seated at the piano, coaxing delicate, soulful phrases that recalled his jazz roots; the next, he was on his feet, leading a joyous singalong that had the entire audience swaying in rhythm. His ability to shift between introspection and unrestrained exuberance is part of what makes him such a magnetic performer. An extended piano interlude found him masterfully blending Beethoven, with blues, Beatles, and Bill Withers, and somehow, it all flowed seamlessly.
The title song Big Money speaks to the ultimately unfulfilling chase of material pursuits, while losing yourself in the process. “I Need You” turned into a full-blown dance party, while “Calling Your Name” and “Butterfly” provided moments of intimate reflection. Batiste’s band tight, dynamic, and clearly having the time of their lives followed his every spontaneous twist with ease, turning each number into a conversation rather than a simple recital. Each artist was given time to shine, delivering masterful individual performances.
In one of the night’s most memorable moments, Batiste leapt from the stage, parading through the aisles in a jubilant second-line procession, high-fiving fans and spreading pure joy. It was the kind of unscripted, communal moment that felt both theatrical and deeply human a signature hallmark of his live shows.
By the time he reached the euphoric encore the entire hall was on its feet, hands in the air, singing like a gospel choir. The connection between artist and audience was undeniable pure, unfiltered joy. In these days of pursuing clicks and likes, it could be easy to be cynical about Batiste’s approach as insincere, but given his strong roots in New Orleans, and his deep immersion in so many music genres, it truly flows through him and the energy transmitted in the room is palpable and electric. He is a man who believes that we can transform the world through our own example, and he mentioned many times throughout the evening that “I may not know who you are, but I love you”, and you believed it. The banner hung above the stage read “THIS IS THE CIRCUS OF LOVE. UNDER OUR TENT IS REVIVAL AND JOY. Not a soul in attendance would have disputed that.
After the encores as he walked through the crowd, greeting nearly everyone personally, his bandmembers playing behind him like a Mardi Gras drumline, nearly everyone stayed in the theater watching him sing and play and smile, and there was a real feeling that something was happening, something had changed inside of us. Something better existed, and it was something that we all could manifest, right here and right now. Eventually, Batiste walked out into the lobby, and hundreds of fans followed behind as he continued to play, sing and exult in the joy of being alive, together in a shared communion and fellowship. It was a truly inspiring moment and like nothing I’ve ever experienced at a concert. Nobody wanted to leave, because we didn’t want that feeling to disappear, we wanted to bottle and behold it, and that’s the real message that I believe he wanted to impart, telling us to take that, and pass it along to the next person you meet. You possess that power and ability to uplift yourself and those around you, and that’s our mission in life, to make this place a little bit better through the power of positivity. Afterwards, as fans finally exited, the dancing and singing continued into the parking lot, people walking on air, feeling like you wanted to hug everyone you encountered.
Jon Batiste doesn’t just play music; he channels it, shares it, and makes everyone in the room feel part of it. It’s an incredible gift, and something that he wants people to know that they possess the same power inside themselves. His Ruth Eckerd Hall performance was a true reminder of music’s power to heal, uplift, and unite.
