Jon Batiste at KOKO

Jon Batiste at KOKO, London — 2026-06-26

Songs of Hope and Change brought collaboration, generosity and moments of genuine beauty to the third night of Jon Batiste’s KOKO residency.

The third evening of Jon Batiste’s four-night KOKO residency arrived with an air of curiosity. An eight-time GRAMMY Award-winning musician, composer and bandleader, Batiste has established himself as one of contemporary music’s most acclaimed and versatile artists. Songs of Hope and Change was never billed as a traditional headline concert. That curiosity was tested somewhat when the show began around 90 minutes later than scheduled, leaving a packed KOKO audience standing through one of the UK’s hottest weeks of the year. Once the music finally started, however, the evening’s intentions became much clearer. This wasn’t about one artist commanding the spotlight. Instead, Batiste had curated an evening built around collaboration, conversation and carefully chosen songs, allowing each performer to shape the narrative.

Rather than making an immediate entrance himself, Batiste opened the evening by handing the stage to GRAMMY-winning singer, songwriter and drummer Jamison Ross. Best known for blending soul, gospel and jazz into music that feels both timeless and contemporary, Ross immediately established the tone with “Lullaby”, “Stay in This Moment” and “Keep On”. His performances weren’t designed to ignite the room; they were there to draw it in. Alongside him, double bassist Russell Hall became one of the evening’s defining musicians. His playing was the thread that ran through the performance, shifting between soulful restraint and melodic improvisation while quietly anchoring almost every arrangement. Backed by Hall and an exceptional band, Ross’s rich, expressive voice carried warmth and conviction, allowing every lyric the space to resonate. It was a measured and confident opening that rewarded attention rather than demanding it.

Corinne Bailey Rae, the British singer-songwriter whose blend of neo-soul, jazz and R&B has earned critical acclaim for more than two decades, then took to the stage, opening with Bob Marley’s “Is This Love” before performing her breakthrough hit “Like a Star”. Her performance immediately altered the atmosphere inside KOKO. Never relying on vocal power alone, Bailey Rae allowed every phrase the time and space to settle, demonstrating why she remains one of Britain’s most distinctive voices. Whether interpreting Marley or revisiting one of her defining songs, she never overplayed the emotion. That restraint made her performance all the more affecting.

As the applause settled, Jon Batiste finally walked on stage to a warm reception. Before taking his place at the piano, he introduced the band, speaking warmly about Jamison Ross’s musicianship and thanking both Ross and Bailey Rae for sharing the evening with him. It was a brief exchange, but it encapsulated the generosity that ran through the entire performance. Standing in front of the piano, Bailey Rae then joined him for “Moon River” and “The Very Thought of You”. There was no attempt to reinvent either song or turn them into vocal showcases. Instead, they trusted the strength of the material. Batiste’s understated piano playing provided a delicate foundation while their voices complemented one another without ever vying for attention. The performance felt intimate, conversational and entirely at home within KOKO’s beautifully restored theatre. It was unquestionably the evening’s high point.

It was an unconventional format, particularly for an artist of Batiste’s stature. Rather than centring the evening on his own work, he placed his trust in the musicians around him, allowing each to shape the experience in their own way.

Bob Marley’s “One Love”, performed alongside an autism choir, was one of the evening’s most affecting moments. Watching the choir throw themselves into the performance with such wholehearted commitment gave the song a renewed sense of purpose. It was a reminder that authenticity often leaves the deepest impression.

Those arriving expecting a high-energy Jon Batiste headline concert were likely to leave surprised. The lengthy delay, coupled with a format that deliberately placed Batiste in a supporting role for much of the evening, left some in the audience visibly uncertain about what they had come to see. There were moments where the pacing drifted and, despite the quality of the musicianship on stage, the evening occasionally struggled to maintain its momentum.

Yet Songs of Hope and Change shouldn’t be judged solely on what it wasn’t. This was never intended to be a greatest hits set or a showcase of Batiste’s remarkable virtuosity. Instead, it gave equal weight to the musicians around him, with Jamison Ross, Corinne Bailey Rae, Russell Hall, Nick Waterhouse and the outstanding supporting band all making meaningful contributions to the evening. It didn’t entirely fulfil the expectations many ticket holders understandably brought with them, but there was genuine beauty in its generosity and its willingness to let others lead. Whether that was enough to justify the wait will depend on what each audience member came hoping to experience.

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