Jon Batiste Announces New Album ‘Beethoven Blues’: A Fresh Spin On Classical Masterpieces

Jon Batiste reimagines some of Beethoven’s most iconic works on Beethoven Blues (Batiste Piano Series, Vol. 1), a new album set for release on November 15 via Verve Records / Interscope. Batiste previewed the set by sharing its opening track, “Für Elise-Batiste,” and an accompanying video.

As its title implies, the forthcoming LP marks the first installment in Batiste’s new solo piano series. Jon Batiste was inspired to make Beethoven Blues following a 2023 appearance with CNN’s Chris Wallace. During the interview, the multi-Grammy and Oscar Award showcased his talent for breaking down musical barriers by delivering a genre-bending rendition of Beethoven’s Bagatelle No. 25 (“Für Elise”). The idea for a full album of such interpolations took flight after a video of the performance went viral, alerting Batiste that the time was ripe to turn his long-standing concept into reality.

“For each work on the album, the starting point was one of Beethoven’s original compositions,” Batiste explained. “From there, I created something new at the piano, in real time. Spontaneous composition is a practice that’s all but lost in classical music, which can sometimes feel overly canonized. Recording this album was a deeply spiritual experience. It allowed me to honor Beethoven’s transcendent artistry while bringing his work into dialogue with my own creative journey.”

Beethoven Blues follows 2023’s World Music Radio, which received four Grammy nominations. The Batiste-focused documentary, American Symphony, was also released last year.

Watch Jon Batiste’s “Für Elise-Batiste” video below:

Beethoven Blues Tracklist

1. Für Elise-Batiste
2. Symphony No. 5 Stomp
3. Moonlight Sonata Blues
4. Dusklight Movement
5. Seventh Symphony Elegy
6. American Symphony Theme
7. Ode to Joyful
8. Fifth Symphony in Congo Square
9. Waldstein Wobble
10. Life of Ludwig
11. Für Elise-Reverie