Jon Batiste's ninth studio album, BIG MONEY, was written and recorded mostly live in single takes over two weeks, capturing a raw immediacy and spontaneous energy. Batiste views his organic approach as a direct statement on the importance of keeping musical traditions alive, in part as a rejoinder to A.I. music.

Commercial success

• BIG MONEY debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Classical Albums chart.

• The album entered the Billboard 200 at No. 64, marking his highest entry on that chart.

Cultural impact

• Jon Batiste embarked on “The Big Money Tour: Jon Batiste Plays America,” stopping at more than 30 venues across the US

• Batiste also performed “Lean On My Love” for A COLORS SHOW.

• The singer coined the term 'New Americana' around the album, describing an effort to expand the genre's boundaries in the current landscape.

Critical response

• DownBeat stated, "With Big Money, Jon Batiste hits the ears with a perfect little package of pure joy, fantastic wordplay, amazing musicianship and subtle soul all bundled in a stripped-down set of nine tunes that groove, bop and flow with perfection." Read full review

• AP News reported that Jon Batiste "opts for a surprisingly intimate sound" on BIG MONEY, with "stripped-down, mostly acoustic arrangements creat[ing] a chill vibe." Read full review

• Riff Magazine praised the album as "a compact, authoritative statement on American roots music," noting how Batiste "integrates diverse American musical traditions to create an intimate yet communal work." Read full review